The immediate past governor of Benue, Chief Samuel Ortom, has urged the people of the state to pray and support his successor, Gov. Hyacinth Alia, to succeed.
Ortom made the call on Thursday in Makurdi during his first media interaction since he left office in 2023.
According to him, even the scripture admonished Christians to pray for their leaders.
He, however, regretted that despite his efforts to develop the state during his time and silence after leaving office, all he got from his successor was attacks and all kinds of name-calling.
The former urged the people to pray for the governor to understand the importance of implementing the state Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017.
He said there was every need for the present administration to take the implementation of the law seriously because the law belongs to the people and insecurity has continued unabated.
Ortom further accused the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari of turning a blind eye to the then killings, displacement and attacks of Benue people by armed herders.
He also disclosed that powerful interest groups within the idea Buhari’s government championed open grazing despite the realities of Nigeria’s growing population and dwindling land resources.
He alleged that his refusal to support the open grazing agenda led to deliberate economic sabotage against his administration.
He said some forces denied him an N40 billion interest-free loan from the Central Bank to clear salary arrears and an N35 billion infrastructural loan to develop the state.
“Because I stood against the open grazing policy, which was impractical in the face of our current realities, they punished Benue by withholding funds we were legitimately entitled to,” Ortom said.
Ortom said despite the economic sabotage, he was able to execute legacy projects such as the ultra-modern Tor Tiv Palace and Oche-Idoma palace.
He said he also built 42 primary healthcare centres to boost the state healthcare system and renovated/rebranded over 2000 primary schools.
The former governor also said he constructed many roads that have today opened up major towns in the state.
“I appreciate God for everything. God brought me to govern the state at a time like that for a purpose, and I feel fulfilled that I was able to fulfil that purpose.
“During my time I met with the Tiv and Idoma traditional councils and stakeholders to fashion out policies that guided my administration.
“I remain very grateful to God and the people of Benue for standing with me to achieve what we achieved,” he said. (NAN)