– A civil society activist was reportedly harassed in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Benue state
– Some media reports had linked Governor Samuel Ortom to the incident
– The chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Terver Akase has cleared the air on the controversy
The chief press secretary to the Benue state governor, Mr. Terver Akase has dispelled insinuations linking his boss with the reported harassment of a civil society activist, Ukan Kurugh at the Makurdi International Market by suspected thugs.
Mr. Akase dismissed the rumour in an interview with journalists on Monday, September 18 at the Government House, Makurdi.
Akase stated that it was unacceptable for anyone to harass those rendering help to victims of the recent flood at the IDPs camp.
Mr Terver Akase speaking to journalists on the issue at the Government House, Makurdi on Monday, September 18
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He described as mischievous the insinuation that Governor Ortom was sponsoring thugs to harass people.
He noted that Governor Ortom on Monday, May 22 outlawed thuggery by assenting to the Abduction, Hostage-taking, kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) law 2017.
He wondered why the same governor would then turn around and sponsor thugs against any member of the society, after signing such a bill.
He stated that the governor believes in members of the people having a say in the manner they are governed, which is why he constituted a committee on the recent flood in the state with membership drawn from civil society organizations, the media, Nigerian Bar Association among others to ensure transparency in the handling of relief materials.
Mr. Akase stated that Governor Ortom is a leader who does not subscribe to violence of any kind and has demonstrated qualities of a peace loving man over the years.
While challenging those making the allegations to be ready to prove their statements, Akase said the governor had directed security agents to fish out those responsible for the reported attack and bring them to justice to serve as deterrent to others.
He also urged members of civil society organizations providing assistance to victims of the flood in the IDPs camps not to be discouraged by the incident, stressing that the Ortom administration appreciates their selfless service to the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Ortom has urged the Senate committee on works to intensify supervision of all federal roads in the state with a view to making appropriate recommendations on them to the federal government.
Governor Ortom made the call when he received members of the committee led by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano state) at the Government House, Makurdi recently.
He decried the deplorable state of the federal roads and stressed the need for the committee to inspect some of them in the state to have first hand experience of their conditions.
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Watch locals scoop fuel from a broken down tanker in Abia state on ZENITHBLOG.com TV:
Source: Zenithblog.com
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