Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has sued for unity among the people of the state irrespective of their political affiliations for the state to successfully defeat its common enemy.
Ortom, who made the appeal Saturday, April 16, 2022 when he led other dignitaries to witness the burial of Mama Phoebe Mchianan Afatyo, wife of Tor Jemgbagh, His Royal Highness, David Afatyo Ajoko at Tse Ajoko, Mbakyongo in Tombo Mbalagh, Buruku Local Government Area, frowned at unnecessary bickering amongst the people of the state as a result of political differences.
He said that the Benue people have become an endangered species due to the coordinated agenda of Fulani herdsmen attack on its communities, stressing that it would only take the unity of the people to survive.
Ortom therefore tasked the people of the state to shun bitterness and love one another, stressing that except the people come together and work as one, it will be difficult to defeat the common enemy.
He assured that the Community Volunteer Guards would soon be launched to assist conventional security in protecting the people against invasion, saying the law establishing the outfit has been strengthened to give the outfit more powers to bear legal weapons.
While calling on the people to ensure that they register and update their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), Ortom urged them, especially the politicians to play the game devoid of rancour and hatred.
The governor described the death of the wife of Tor Jemgbagh, His Royal Highness, Afaityo Ajoko as painful not only to him but everyone that came in contact with her and encouraged him to accept it as the will of God.
In his own brief remarks, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, stressed the need for the people to love one another and enjoined leaders at all levels not to relent in providing solutions to the problems confronting the state.
Similarly, the Senator representing Benue North West, Orker Jev and that of North East, Gabriel Suswam and the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, represented by Tor Jechira, Chief Clement Uganden all cautioned the youths against causing disharmony in the society because of politics.
