BY UDOH GEORGE
Since Governor Samuel Ortom launched into the political landscape of Benue Sate in 1991 as the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, his profile has continued to be in an upswing mode, knowing no other life other than the public service, where he has recorded unprecedented landmark achievements.
Governor Ortom”s current ambition to become the next Senator representing Benue North West Senatorial District on the platform of the People Democratic Party, PDP come 2023, is expected, by the Grace of God, to earn another feather on his cap.
He’s a smart politician whose profile has become so intimidating and very remarkable that it will take only the initiated in the polity to know exactly where he is coming from. Little wonder, the entire political circuit in the state even beyond his senatorial district have been rooting for this man of cool mien and silent achievements, much to the bewilderment and backing of all stakeholders in the state and beyond. Even the opposition political groups have suddenly become jittery and apprehensive over Ortom’s ambition because to them, it’s no longer fear of the unknown rather fear of the very known, given his antecedents in the public , private and political spaces.
Today, the fear of Samuel Ortom becoming the Senator representing Benue North West has rapidly become the beginning of wisdom for other contestants. It is common knowledge that despite all the mischief and grandstanding to ruffle Governor Ortom , the man seems not bothered; he’s only focusing on the task ahead.
But, does Governor Ortom think about any fear about all these? No, as all permutations, calculations and arithmetic are pointing in one positive direction for the undisputed widely acclaimed man of the moment in the entire State in particular and in Nigeria in general.
Many of the political juggernauts in the party and stakeholders across the seven local government areas in the Senatorial Districts have come to a consensus about his candidacy and eventual support for him to become the next occupant of Benue North West Senatorial Seat come 2023.
Governor of Benue State is a Nigerian Industrialist ,administrator, farmer , businessman, employer and philanthropist .He was was born on 23rd April, 1961 in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Young Samuel Ortom started his primary education at the famous St John Primary School, Gboko , Benue State between 1970 and 1974 . In 1974, he moved to St Catherine’s Primary School Secondary where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1974.Ortom proceeded to Idah Secondary Commercial, Idah. Kogi State .
However , in 1979, Ortom’s education was truncated for financial reasons after his father retired from civil service and his subsequently unable to pay his school fees . Samuel Ortom left school and worked at Gboko park in order to support his family and to also shape his destiny. He was subsequently assisted by a good spirited Nigerian ,who taught him how to drive and obtained a driver’s licence for him He became a professional driver and a driver to Pa SamueI Ihur , a prominent Gboko based Christian leader and a politician to make ends meet.
It was in the course of working that he found an advert for a correspondence course in the National School of Salesmanship, Manchester by cocorrespondence. Through it Ortom obtained a diploma in salesmanship as well as the General Certificate of Education. In 1995, he obtained the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate from Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria in Kaduna State . In 1998, Ortom obtained a diploma in Journalism from the same University. In 2001, Ortom obtained an advanced diploma in Personal Management from Benue State University . In 2004, he obtained a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Governor Ortom then engaged in distance learning that got him a Ph.D in Philosophy from Commonwealth University, Belize
Governor Samuel Ortom’s active and impressive political career began when he contested and won the Chairmanship election of Guma Local Government Area. He was chairman from 1991to 1993 under the platform of Social Democratic Party .In addition, his eventful sojourn in politics resulted in him holding several high ranking positions including the State Publicity Secretary of National Centre Party of Nigeria , NCP ; State Treasurer of All Peoples Party and State Secretary as well Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Benue State where he played a very distinguished and active part in the politics of State ,bringing to bear his exposure and wealth of experience . Dr Ortom was also Director of Operations of the PDP gubernatorial campaign in Benue State in 2007 and Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck /Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization in 2011. He was PDP National Auditor before his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in July 2011. He served simultaneously and meritoriously as Minister of State for Industries , Trade and Investment and Supervising Minister of Aviation .
In 2014 ,Governor Samuel Ortom announced his intention to contest for the coveted office of the Governor of Benue on the platform of PDP
He therefore resigned as Minister of State , Industry, Trade and Investment. However, due to some internal bickering that bared its face in his gubernatorial ambition, he listened to the advice of his supporters and other stakeholders to seek an alternative party to pursue his governorship ambition, a decision he took with an unusual calm and philosophical approach, even in the face of outright condemnation by his assumed cronies in the PDP fold of the state.He contested for Governor of Benue SState. He eventually won the election in April 2015 on the platform of All Progressive Congress , APC,
In July 2018, Ortom announced his departure from All Progressives Congress and defected to the PDP when the people of Benue came under sustained attacks from Fulani and following apparent failure of the ruling All Progressive Congress to respond to the what he considered to be the Presidency’s failure to curb what he sees as murderous and expansionist incursion of the Fulani herders into Benue State , a largely agrarian state, coupled with the hostility and campaigned of hatred , calumny and blackmail towards him from the leadership of the party in the state. Governor Ortom was faced with the difficult choice of either toeing the line of the party in Abuja or stand to defend the people of the state felled by bullets believed to be from the flanks of the Fulani herdsmen .With all the threats , intimidation and outright blackmail even by highly placed persons within the State and the Presidency who ordinarily should have offered some sort of succor to the Governor and the people of the State , he refused to abandon his people ,
As a politician with a human and sensitive spirit he suspended campaigns for his governorship ambition for one month so as to concentrate on efforts to resolve the crisis and bring succor to his people . His reasoning was that it did not make sense to continue with political activities in pursuit of his ambition when the people he wished to govern were under continuous siege with hundreds being killed. For him , his administration would be worthless if he abandoned his people.
Governor Ortom stood like the Rock of Gibraltar and declared ‘ I am here as Governor because of the people of Benue State , whatever happens to them happens to me. I am a true descendant of my forefathers . I cannot abandon my people’.
For Governor Ortom , whose state has arguably been the hottest spot of the herders/farmers crisis in Nigeria with a record of close to ten thousand deaths and over one million displaced persons, if defending his people would cost him the governorship so be it ;but he was convinced that history would be kind to him as a man who stood to be counted when it mattered.Ortom stood his ground in his determination to speak for the disadvantaged and the dispossessed, the denigrated and the dehumanized, the subjugated and the subverted on the anti open grazing law and dared anyone to flaunt it even as the death toll piled up . He stood and wept with his people and defied the presidency that appeared to give tacit approval to the mass killings with its complicit silence and lack of action .. Within the period he collaborated with the friends of the state and stakeholders within the state to find a permanent solution to the cold murder of the defenceless . Governor Ortom extensively toured the affected areas, donating relief materials to internally displaced persons.
It is noteworthy that this collaborative effort yielded results as the attacks were subdued while concerted peace building efforts were put in place to forestall future occurrences
For this humane gesture, he went on to win with a landslide the PDP primary election in October 2018 as the party candidate for the 2019 elections .
When the 2019 election came , Benue people decided that it was time to reward a man who had shown that he is their leader , a man who chose their interest at the risk of his safety and political career . The people overwhelmingly voted for Ortom and he convincingly won the 2019 Benue State Gubernatorial Election defeating his closest challenger , the candidate of All Progressive Congress , APC . He polled 434, 473votes , while the runner up Emmanuel Jime polled 345155votes .Jime legally challenged Ortom’s victory and filed a petition on the grounds of substantial non –compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act , 2010 as amended . The Supreme Court on the 21st January 2020 affirmed Samuel Ortom’s election as the duly elected Governor of Benue State APC, He began his second term in March 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party
DEFENDER OF BENUE VALLEY
Without any ambiguity the Governor stands out as a pillar and beacon of hope for the people as he has put in place the best solution to the incessant unprovoked attacks on Benue farmers through the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017. He has consistently insisted on the full implementation of the Law which he argues rightly is the global best practice in animal husbandry. Despite pressure from powerful forces both within and outside the state that the Law be repealed or suspended, the Governor has doggedly stood his ground to defend the Benue Valley thus earning him the highly prized title of ‘Defender of the Benue Valley’
Governor Ortom name will not only remain evergreen in the annals of history of Benue in particular , but in Nigeria as whole When the history of the great effort to end open grazing of livestock in Nigeria shall be written Governor Ortom’s name shall be written in Gold as one Governor who exercised an inalienable right in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic to make laws for peace and good governance for the people of Benue State whom he promised to protect and secure their lives and property when he was sworn in as the fifth democratically elected Governor of Benue in 2015 and 2019 respectively
The People of the State will forever live to salute him for restoring the battered hope of the farming population of the State which has earned the State the Food basket of the Nation
This success story shall be a permanent legacy not only for Benue State people but for Nigerians as a whole. He has already made himself a hero.
According to Martin Luther King Jnr, the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moment of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenges and controversy.
As often recognized protecting lives and property remain the cardinal and central pillar on which governance rests and anchored and performance measured without relative peace and security social growth and sustainable developmemt of society cannot proceed
Ortom had no choice to have done what he did by invoking this right, owing to life-threatening activities of this dreaded and unrepentant herdsmen . It would have amounted to an unpardonable negligence on the part of Governor Samuel Ortom , as a leader , elected to protect and secure the people of Benue State to do nothing in the circumstances he found himself.
Governor Samuel Ortom has earned the respect and praises of his friends and foes , they see him as an hero who has consistently promised to uphold and defend the Benue People from Fulani Invasion without his dogged determination half of Benue State would have been under forceful occupation
More interestingly, Governor Ortom crusade won the hearts of all the thirty six 36 Governors of the Federal Republic to the extent that open grazing of livestock is no longer fashionable and legislations have sprung up all over the country with all the seventeen states taking the bull with the implementation of the widely.
Ahead of 2023 Senatorial Race
The momentum has grown since the much-talked-about Governor Ortom intention to vie for the Benue North West Senatorial Seat which is fast becoming a sure bet, despite a stiff opposition from the APC.
Highly personable and a loyal party man, Governor Ortom is a political warrior who has not hidden his intention to run for the Senate Seat come 2023 and having intensified consultations with stakeholders within the villages, ninety council wards and the seven local governments areas that form the fulcrum of the senatorial district,
It is widely believed that with his background , knowledge and experience of the area that makes up Benue East Senatorial District that Governor Ortom has all it takes to represent the senatorial area, having known their pains , problems and aspiration, Governor Ortom is a well equipped to render them the service that they deserve to uplift their status.
These and many more virtues are why Governor Ortom;s name is now on the lips of many genuine and thoughtful people of Benue North West Senatorial District who earnestly seek a better and more pro-active replacement for the incumbent Senator , whose development and performance sheets are only on the pages of newspapers, radio and TV stations and of course the social media.
In fact permutations in several quarters, with the current wave of decamping across the length and breadth of Benue State has further revalidate that the chances for the election of Governor Samuel Ioraer Ortom of Benue State is to clinch the Benue North West Senatorial is very bright.
Many argued and submitted that the Red Chamber requires a man that is fearless, bold, courageous, vocal and outspoken and all these qualities are embedded in the person of Governor Samuel
However, there is a need for a major and timely caution as to be made by the people of the senatorial, for everything to be done with utmost foresight and vision. right from the very beginnings. Everything possible should be done to avoid promoting a wrong candidate ahead of the senatorial election that could end up voting for a wrong candidate in the 2023
. The Bible talks of special articles that are separated and dedicated for noble use. First impressions cannot be made twice. It’s very important that the right candidate should be preferred, fortified, embellished, endorsed and supported from the very blast of the whistle . While there can be no doubt that the present occupier has done his best for the common good of people in general or particular in time past , there is a near astronomic or celestial need to choose the very best and most prospect-full among the aspirants that are presently expressing interest in the senatorial race and I believe the reason is obvious. There are candidates and there are candidates; but there are candidates with which to win and candidates that will lead to losing. This is the reality and not a wishful fact.
However, knowledge is tantamount to power they say. The Bible state that people perish for lack of knowledge. This is why it is requisite to give expository knowledge to present relevant insights upon one of the aspirants presently contending for the 2023 senatorial race, so that the people may know him and understand his worth and know why we like and want him; believing that you also will as well like and want him, when you know what we know about him. “Nyamkyume’. It means very plainly but ingeniously, though not imperceptibly, audacious, bold, brave, courageous, daring , fearless and gallant , these are some notable paraphernalia about the man, Governor Samuel Ortom that mark him out to be preferred for this August role at this present time in the annals of our state and senatorial history.
Furthermore, Governor Ortom still remains one of the most courageous emerging leader of the Benue valley and can be lined him up with several great men in history of the world and of all ages, he stands shoulder to shoulder with them for daring to do what others could not .
No doubt, the past occupiers of this revered red chamber had contributed their quota, however, the politics of the current dispensation requires men with Lion heart and Governor Ortom is that Lion called Nyamkyume in Tiv parlance, not a yes man, a man who does not only tread with caution, but a man who is conscious and concern with the needs and yearning of his people
,Already as the race towards 2023 has started in earnest , stakeholders in the Benue North West have started to drumming support with a vow to ensure that nothing stand in the way of incumbent Governor for the senate seat with PDP structures comprising the council chairmen and councilors, party leaders, ,party elders, political appointees. community leaders student community and women group among other groups
More importantly, it is recorded in the holy book that “Except the Lord build the house, the workman labour but in vain”. In all political permutations, the God factor cannot be ruled out. There is a popular saying that “Man proposes but God disposes” and this will play important role in the Senatorial election of Governor Samuel Ortom.
When he came on board, many prophesied that he will never be the governor of Benue State but God proved them wrong, but the Supreme God showed up. That is behind us and today he is the Governor.
Governor Ortom is a grass-roots politician loved by the people of the State. He is a well-bred politician and is generous and an epitome of humility who professes strong Christian faith which no doubt has been working for him .He abhors politics of bitterness and always act as a bridge builder in all circumstances
To this end all the votes that count must be counted in favour of Governor Samuel Ioarernyi Ortom Adorogo, as the next occupier of the senate seat come 2023 for Benue North West Senatorial District