Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The immediate past governor of Benue state, Chief Samuel Ortom, PhD has opened up on the allegations of corruption and non performance being made against him by the current administration led by Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
The Leader of the People’s Democratic Party in Benue state who was speaking with members of the Independent Print Media Publishers Association of Nigeria (IPPAN) recently stated that he didn’t not take a penny which didn’t belong to him while he was governor of Benue state for eight years.
Ortom who is also the Grand Patron and first National President of the association condemned the allegations that he didn’t construct any road while he was governor.
He also berated those criticizing his approach to insecurity in Benue state during his tenure as governor.
He said: “How can someone on earth say that for the 8 years of my administration, I did not construct even a toilet? How can someone say that with all the risks ensuring that we protect our land and preserve our land, I was on my own?
“The Fulanis attempted to kill me 7 good times. They confessed to me. God Almighty who I serve preserved my life and I am here today”
Speaking further, Chief Ortom said that he didn’t take any action without consulting the people of Benue state who always gave him a nod each time he wanted to take a critical step.
His words: “Everything I did during my administration, I consulted with the people of Benue State, and they gave me the nod, and today, nobody is talking about that as if I was an island, doing these things alone.
On the allegations of corruption against him by the Alia-led administration, Chief Ortom said: “The current government is very hostile to me. They took me to EFCC here in Makurdi. After I went there and explained myself, they took me to EFCC in Abuja. They took me to the Code of Conduct, they took me to the ICPC, and I didn’t do anything. I have not seen what I did wrong. Nobody in Benue State can say that I stole money from the Paris loan refund, bailout funds, or any funds that came to the state. I did not take one naira and those working with me can testify to that.
On payment of salaries and pensions under his administration, he said: “If you talk of payment of salaries and pension, you should remember that during my time, there was a recession; three different recessions took place.
“The first one was due to a collapse in oil prices and problems arising from oil production shocks. There was also the recession arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. At a point, all that was coming from the federation account was not enough to pay salaries. It was very difficult for us.
“Now you will appreciate the fact that throughout my tenure, no worker went on strike over salary payment. Were the workers foolish? No! It was because they knew that I was transparent.
“I showed them the figures that came to us. At the local government level, it was the same thing. Pensioners, except those who were induced and used against us were also aware because we were very open and transparent in handling the finances that came to our state”
Reacting to allegations that he used public funds to develop his private businesses, the former governor said: “I didn’t take any money to my house. People can say that I had Oracle Business Ltd, yes, I founded Oracle Business Ltd to add value to the development of our state and improve the economy, but throughout my 8 years as governor of Benue State, I never manipulated government in the interest of Oracle Business Ltd, a company I founded in the year 2000, but which I resigned from when I was serving as a minister. I was no longer a director of the company, and throughout my 8 years as governor of Benue State, Oracle Business Ltd did not get a single contract from the state government.
“Anybody who thinks otherwise should come forward and contradict me and bring the facts. I served the state in consultation with the people of Benue State. I carried the people along in my service to the state, and as much as possible, I ensured that there was equity, fairness, and justice throughout my tenure as governor of the state.
“Coming at the time that I came, I did my best. I have no regrets against external aggressors who came here to invade and take our land. I thank God for the grace to stand against them, and to do the things that I did.
“The rest may be history and history will judge all of us, who were leaders yesterday and who are leaders today. History and God shall judge us whether we did the right thing or the wrong thing. For me, I did nothing wrong. I did not embezzle money for pensioners or workers’ salaries”
On the current administration, Chief Ortom said: “I pray for the government of the day to succeed. Today, Fr. Alia has the opportunity to govern. Whatever I failed to do, let him do it. Let him improve on the foundation we laid but let him not break the foundation. This idea that you must eliminate Ortom’s legacies, you are not God. Nobody is God.
“As a Christian, God has given me several testimonies… Coming from my chequered life experience to where I am today is a testimony that no one can dispute. I pray that God will help him to do the right thing. As a citizen of Benue State, anything that affects Benue State also affects me.
“I want to urge Governor Alia to take advantage of the huge opportunity, the resources that are available now from the federal government, which I didn’t have. The resources coming now are four times higher than what I was getting.
“For me, I live a life of working for the people. So you would recall that whoever in Nigeria will leave a ruling party to the opposition? I did that! Because of my people.
“Though it would appear that our people have forgotten, but it doesn’t matter. The Bible says whatever you do, do it as to God, and I leave that to God for whatever I did, it was service unto God because God brought me.
“I leave everything to God Almighty to decide what to do even if I am to be crucified. I did my best not for personal gain. If I wanted money, I would have joined Buhari’s government like some of my colleagues did.
“So, I appeal to the current government, we have done our bit. If there are issues, let them ask us, and we shall explain, but with the huge resources coming to them, which are 4 times bigger than what we were getting, let them brace up too, as the day of reckoning is coming. People would ask questions, and even I, as a former governor, would ask questions.
“My prayer is that the government succeeds in adding value to the status of our people and bringing progress to our state. The joy of every father is to see his children succeed and even do better than them”.