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Tag: Benue

  • Atiku will get 65 per cent of Benue’s votes – Party chieftain

    Atiku will get 65 per cent of Benue’s votes – Party chieftain

    A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) says the party’s Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will get 65 per cent of Benue State votes.

    Mr Abraham Chila, who is a grassroots mobiliser expressed the optimism while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said that in spite Gov. Samuel Ortom’s support for his Rivers counterpart, Gov. Nyesom Wike, in the power tussle within the PDP, Atiku would garner 65 per cent of the state votes.

    Ortom had said that unless Wike was appeased,PDP would risk losing the state votes during the 2023 presidential election.

    Chila said  regardless of whatever action Ortom would take,during next year’s general elections, PDP and Atiku would always win elections in the state.

    He said that from 1999 to date PDP has become very entrenched in Benue.

    He added that for the fact that PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu is from Benue, it made it imperative that nothing could change the voting pattern in the state.

    “You may wish to know that my governor, Ortom, is also a candidate for the senatorial election in next year’s election. Interestingly, the presidential election and that of National Assembly come up the same day.

    “So, with Gov. Ortom’s fate tied to that of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, it is impossible for PDP to get less than 65 per cent of the state total votes cast.

    “And with our son, Dr

    Ayu as the national chairman, PDP has the bragging rights for the maximum votes from Benue State,” Chila noted.

    Chila, who contested the party’s ticket for Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency, explained that being a predominantly agrarian state with more population in the rural communities, no other political party could achieve rural penetration more than PDP.

    He expressed confident that with the security and economy challenges facing the country, including Benue, the state would vote for Abubakar who has the capacity to address the challenges.

    “We need stability and security and Benue State voters know that the only man that can pull Nigeria back from the precipice is Abubakar.

    “The former Vice President is not coming to the Presidency as a learner, but will bring his wealth of experience to bear on national reconstruction.”

    On the calls by some PDP stakeholders on Ayu to resign, Chila said those making the calls were either mistaken or mischievous, saying Ayu emerged through a foolproof process that was not controverted.

    He said that telling Ayu to quit when he had not committed any impeachable offence amounts to questioning the very rudiments of democracy.

    “Ayu has not committed any offence. Therefore, anybody asking him to leave office is indirectly calling for the proscription of PDP, which is not attainable in a democracy.

    “People should look beyond Ayu as an individual, he represents that party on account of the mandate freely given to him.

    “If I may add, what would be the compensation for the North Central if Ayu resigns?

    “The North Central has been making sacrifices for the growth and stability of PDP.

    “Do we have to wait for 24 years before being considered for the presidential ticket, why must we throw away the consolation prize of national chairman?” Chila asked.

  • Whistleblower, critic drag Benue LG chairman, Facebook to court

    Whistleblower, critic drag Benue LG chairman, Facebook to court

    Mr. Unazi Gideon, a social critic, and Eza Patrick, an anti-corruption crusader have dragged Mr. James Oche, Chairman, Ado Local Government Area of Benue and Facebook International Services Nigeria Limited for alleged defamation of character.

    Gideon and Patrick, in a suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/2812/2022 and filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, demanded N500 million in damages.

    Oche and Facebook were sued as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.

    In the application dated and filed Aug. 25 by their lawyer, F.S. Jimba, the claimants are praying the court for “a declaration that the publication originated by the 1st defendant and published by the 2nd defendant on the 23rd August 2022 titled ‘PATRICK EZA and GIDEON UNAZI WANTED OVER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN ADO’ is defamatory of the claimants.”

    They, therefore, prayed the court for an order of injunction perpetually restraining the defendants whether by themselves or through their agents or privies howsoever described, from further publishing any defamatory information concerning them

    In the statement of claims,  the claimants told the court that “on Aug. 23, the 1st defendant used the platform of the 2nd defendant known as Facebook and published a highly defamatory material about them.”

    Oche was alleged to have, through the Facebook, said: “The Benue State Command of the Nigerian Police Force today paraded 18 suspected kidnappers arrested in Ado Local Government.

    “In connection with this, the attention of the public is drawn to the fact that PATRICK EZA and GIDEON UNAZI are hereby declared wanted by Ado Local Government to volunteer useful information to aid police investigation in this matter.

    “Anybody in contact with them should advise them to immediately turn themselves Into the Ado Divisional Police Station Igumalo.

    “Similarly, those with useful information on their whereabouts should kindly inform the DPO Ado LG.”

    But the claimants, in the affidavit in support of the writ of summon, said that they were both in Abuja on Aug. 23 going about their legitimate business when they became aware of the defamatory publication.

    They also averred that as at the time the publication was made, neither of them was invited by the police in connection with the allegation of kidnapping.

    They said that the act had portrayed them as kidnappers or persons involved in kidnapping or persons who are members of a kidnapping gang.

    The claimants, who described themselves as law-abiding citizens who earn their Income from their legitimate work, said they had never involved in any case of kidnapping or any other crime before.

    The matter was yet to be assigned to a judge as at the time of the report.

    NAN

  • Benue PDP chieftain, Philip Wuhe defects to PRP

    Benue PDP chieftain, Philip Wuhe defects to PRP

    Mr Philip Wuhe, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue, has defected to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

    Wuhe said this when he spoke with newsmen in Makurdi.

    He said that he left the party because it did not give him fair treatment in spite of his numerous contributions to its development.
    “I wanted to contest for the state House of the election on the platform of the PDP because I was favoured by zoning.

    “Unfortunately, the zoning arrangement was later manipulated in favour of someone from Mbakaange ward of Vandeikya Local Government Area (LGA).

    “It is because of this that I was compelled to seek for an alternative platform to enable me to actualise my political ambition,” Wuhe said.
    He expressed optimism that he would win the Tiev state house of assembly election in 2023 because he has the support of his people.

    “I am a man of the people. I interact with them freely regardless of party affiliation, as such they are willing to work relentlessly for my success.

    “I personally constructed classroom blocks for so many schools within my constituency, Tiev to be precise.

    “I also built Churches and opened up feeder roads. All these I did for my people years back without thinking of contesting election someday,” he said.

  • APGA gubernatorial candidate seeks support of Benue people

    The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Benue, Mr Joseph Waya, has called on Benue people to join forces with the party to rescue the state from the shackles of poverty, disease and hunger.

    The call is contained in his 2022 Democracy Day message which he personally signed and issued on Sunday in Makurdi.

    “Please join us in APGA, a political party on the rescue mission in Benue. It is not encumbered by political god-fatherism and its leadership will not mortgage your future and that of your children.

    “Instead it will utilise the state funds frugally and judiciously for the benefit of all.

    “You must act by registering to vote in the forthcoming general elections to stop the economic ills visited on us by corrupt politicians for decades,” Waya said.

    He lamented that the country was in danger as it faced many threats that created much anxiety among the citizens.

    He said that the promise of democracy, as well as its rewards, remained pretty much an ideal in Nigeria.

    He also encouraged those in government and those outside of it to graciously cooperate to ensure that the principle of fair play prevailed in the upcoming elections.

    Waya stressed that never in history had the nation suffered a long and sustained economic decline that had shattered many lives.

    “Those who work in government are denied the wages of their labour; those who work on their farms are harmed in their sleep or on their farms and those who are artisans or traders have no patronage because of the penury of the populace.

    “There is no gainsaying that the majority of Nigerians today are in misery and suffering untold indignities.

    “Individuals and families have been stretched to a breaking point by the two political parties that have governed the country in the last two decades.

    “They have failed woefully and we cannot continue with this trend,” he said.

  • APC guber primary: NWC orders re-run in 12 LGAs of Benue

    APC guber primary: NWC orders re-run in 12 LGAs of Benue

    The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has ordered re-run for the governorship primaries in 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Benue.

    The Chairman, Benue Governorship Re-run Committee, Mr Joel Omajali, disclosed this when he addressed APC members on Thursday in Makurdi.

    Omajali listed the affected LGAs as Kwande, Ushongo, Buruku, Konshisha, Ogbadibo, Agatu, Ohimini, Ado, Oju, Okpokwu, Obi and Apa.

    He, however, stated that, in Buruku LGA, the re-run would take place in only three council wards namely: Mbaya, Mbaapen and Binev, respectively.

    He said that the party in the state was in a race against time, as it was the last day for the submission of candidates by parties to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “We have a timeline for this exercise. We are supposed to turn in our results latest by 5pm today, since it is the last day for all primaries.

    “If we do not do it now, then Benue will risk not having a candidate. So, the Returning Officers will be dispatched on time, Omajali said.

    On June 4, the Appeal Committee of the APC recommended the nullification of the governorship primaries.

    The Benue APC had adopted direct primaries which the governorship congress held on May 27, produced a suspended Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia as winner.

    The appeal committee, in a report submitted to the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, on Saturday in Abuja, said the exercise should be nullified, to avoid the agony of not fielding a candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Benue State.

    The report was signed by the Benue APC Primary Election Appeal Committee Chairman, Mr Uzoamaka Onyeama, and the Secretary, Gyang Dung Gyang.

    The committee said it received petitions and reports from party faithful and citizens of the state, including governorship aspirants, Sen. Barnabas Gemade, Prof. Terhemba Shija, Mr. Michael Aondoaka (SAN), that the said governorship primaries never hold.

    The report in part reads: “the few result sheets the aspirants presented to us had more curiously no agent of the governorship aspirants or agent of the declared candidate to prove the results sheets produced and declared genuine.

    “It is the submission of the Appeal committee members that form the foregoing, the past event of Zamfara State and the most latest and potent danger of Anambra State; that no governorship primary held in Benue State and we recommend as follows; that the NWC cancel in its entirety the gubernatorial primary election in Benue State and conduct a fresh election.”

  • Benue speaker emerges PDP guber candidate

    Benue speaker emerges PDP guber candidate

    The speaker of Benue House of Assembly, Mr Titus Uba, has picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the state governorship election in 2023.

    The Returning Officer for the primaries, Mr Bode Ojomu said this when he announced the result of the election on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    Ojomu said that Uba scored 731 out of the 851 votes at the event, adding that the deputy governor, Benson Abounu placed second with 81 votes, while Prof. Dennis Ityavyar got two votes to take the third position.

    Reacting, Uba described his victory as an act of God.

    He appreciated some aspirants, who stepped down for him, saying the action as a sign of comradeship.

    “My challenge now is how to move both the party and the state forward but with the support of PDP members we will be able to achieve great things for the party and state,” Uba said.

    He thanked Abounu for showing him immense love in spite of the fact that they were aspiring for the same position.

    Also speaking, Gov. Samuel Ortom, attributed Uba’s victory to God.

    “A man cannot get anything unless given to him by God. God has done it and we return all the glory to Him.

    “This victory is not Uba’s victory, neither is it mine but it is victory for Benue and PDP,” Ortom said.

    He pledged to give Uba the needed support to enable him succeed, saying that PDP would work to retain the state in 2023 general elections.

    He lauded the electoral process, saying it was free, fair, credible and transparent.

  • David Mark urges Ortom to sustain peace, unity in Benue

    David Mark urges Ortom to sustain peace, unity in Benue

    The former President of the Senate, David Mark has urged Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue to sustain the peace and unity of the people of the state.

    Mark made the call in goodwill message by Mr Paul Mumeh, his Media Adviser, to the governor on his 61st birthday on Sunday in Abuja.

    He praised Ortom’s indomitable spirit in defence of the state so far and told him to remain resolute.

    “The security and welfare of our citizens are paramount and must not be compromised, “he said.

    The former president of the Senate enjoined told Ortom to ensure that the principle of fairness, equity and justice was upheld at all times in the administration of the state.

    “You will continue to enjoy the loyalty and support of the people of the state if you maintain balance, fairness, equity and justice in affairs of the state, “he said.

    He urged Ortom to bequeath a legacy of peace and unity to further cement the bond of brotherhood among the various ethnic groups in the state.

    Mark wished the governor good health, wisdom and courage in the years to come.

  • 2023: How Benue Speaker got endorsed by PDP as consensus guber candidate

    2023: How Benue Speaker got endorsed by PDP as consensus guber candidate

    The Benue State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders from the Tiv speaking 14 Local Government areas of the State have settled for the the speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Titus Uba as consensus guber candidate.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, to the Benue State Governor, Nathaniel Ikyur, indicated that Uba emerged as the governorship consensus candidate for the PDP following a painstaking process that involved various segments of the stakeholders of the party in the state.

    He said Uba also got the endorsements of the 32 gubernatorial aspirants from the 14 Tiv speaking local government areas.

    According to the statement the endorsement of the Benue Speaker came after he was selected by the Kunav leaders of Vandeikya local government and accepted by both the Sankera, Jemgbagh and MINDA political elders.

    “The gubernatorial aspirants took the unanimous decision following serries of stakeholders meetings involving mediations by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and other leaders of the party in the state.

    “At the meeting of stakeholders from the 14 Tiv speaking local government areas held Sunday, April 17th, 2022 at the New Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House, the aspirants unanimously presented Hon Uba to the Governor as their consensus.

    The statement quoted the chairman of the PDP Governorship Aspirants Forum, Barrister Chille Igbawua to have indicated though the process was tedious, they had accepted the choice of Uba as presented by the people of Kunav.

    Governor Ortom charged the consensus candidate to work with the aspirants and visit them individually in order to convince them to work for him and also share their manifestos with him.

    In separate remarks, Senators representing Benue North East and North West, Gabriel Suswam and Orker Jev respectively, commended the process as mid-wifed by the Governor, even as he also acknowledged the aspirants for their resilience and cooperation.

    Receiving the consensus candidate on behalf of the party, state Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Hon Isaac Mfo thanked the Governor for consulting widely to arrive at the consensus by the Tiv speaking areas, stressing that aspirants also exhibited high level of patience as the process lasted.

    Hon Uba will now contend with the deputy governor, Engr Benson Abounu who emerged as the consensus candidate for the 9 local government areas from Benue South Senatorial District for the guber ticket at the party Congress.

  • DHQ promises to find killers in Benue community

    DHQ promises to find killers in Benue community

    The Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen Adeyemi Yekini, says the military will not rest until the killers of 15 villagers at Tiortyu, a community in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue, are apprehended.

    Yekini, who served as the first Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), said he was at Tiortyu to commiserate with the residents of the village over the killing of its residents.

    Speaking to journalists at the scene of the 15 slain villagers at Tiortyu, he assured the public that those who carried out the heinous crime would be apprehended and served justice.

    He was accompanied by the Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke, Maj.-Gen Kevin Aligbe and other top officers of the unit.

    Yekini regretted the attack but assured the people that no stone would be left unturned until the perpetrators were brought to justice.

    He described the perpetrators as bandits and said it was premature to conclude they were herders.

    “Those that carried out the attacks must be tracked and brought to justice and for me justice means neutralising them,” he said.

    In an earlier address to the community leaders, the army chief, appealed to the residents to return to their homes and resume their normal business activities.

    He assured them that no such attacks would be repeated in the area but advised them to report all suspicious movements to the security agents.

    Also speaking, Aligbe said that the military would do its best to ensure those behind the attacks were found and advised them to report all suspected people to security personnel.

    Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Shitile community in Tiortyu, Chief Sabastine Hule, commended the federal government for its prompt response in sending the high-power delegation for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

    He said that with the assurances from the Defence Headquarters, the fleeing residents would return home.

    Newsmen reports that Tiortyu village, situated along Makurdi-Gboko highway, was attacked by gunmen, who killed 15 residents, an action that was condemned by the state government and other corporate entities both within and outside the state.

  • 2023: Kiddwaya’s mom, Susan Waya joins Benue guber race

    2023: Kiddwaya’s mom, Susan Waya joins Benue guber race

    BBNaija star Kiddwaya’s mom, Mrs. Susan Waya has joined the 2023 governorship race in the state, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Susan, who spoke with newsmen shortly after obtaining her nomination and expression of interest forms at the PDP secretariat in Abuja, said she was hopeful of picking the party’s ticket for the Government House.

    “A state abundantly gifted with rich, agricultural fields covered by fresh, clean, and unadulterated flowing rivers, one of which it was later named after, Benue is a safe-haven in the grasslands with vast human resources.

    “The state had and still has irreplaceable potential, and has a strong promise for a better future.

    “Our state was so endowed that it was projected to feed the entire nation and serve as a gateway for export to other countries. Unfortunately, our motto as the food basket of the nation has become a fantasy over the years.

    “The euphoria that accompanied the creation of Benue in 1976 has vanished, leaving behind a frightening reality of underdevelopment, unemployment, poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption, and a loss of pride,” she said.

    Susan said that her focus was to restore the lost glory of the state.

    “Our priority is to restore our beloved state back to its glory days and build a more productive and diversified economy by investing heavily in security, agriculture, infrastructure, health, power, ICT, and tax cuts,” she said.

    Susan said that she plan to broaden the economic base of the state by unlocking it great potential, especially in the rural areas.

    “The plan is to assemble all the indigenous engineers and architects through the Ministry of Works to plan and restructure our state to accommodate an international airport, new roads, flyovers, stadium etc.

    ”Others are hospitals, schools, ICT/innovation centers, and other modern social amenities across the state in order to boost our economy and attract global investments.

    “Also, we are going to establish an education strategy that will be both essential for individual development and for national growth. Our commitment is to provide free pre-primary to primary education, upgrade higher education institutions,” Susan said.

    She said that she also plans to initiate a social investment scheme to uplift the living conditions of the people of the state, who were living in extreme poverty.

    “The government will make sure that no child’s opportunity is hindered by economic circumstances.

    “It is time to move away from the past. We cannot continue to support or vote based on sentiments. It is important to support and vote for someone who is capable with a proven track-record of performance over the years.

    ” I present myself, not because I am a woman or a mother, but because my wealth of experience in the private and public sector has earned me tremendous knowledge, skill, and capacity to understand the numerous challenges of the Benue people and proffer long-term solutions.

    “It is our responsibility to rewrite the socioeconomic narrative for ourselves and the future generations. Let us work together to make this campaign a reality by supporting my fresh and innovative ideas that can propel Benue forward,” she said.

    Susan is so far the only woman in the 2023 governorship race in the state.