I’LL WOO INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS INTO BENUE – ORTOM By Tahav Agerzua Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment and governorship aspirant in Benue State, Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom, has pledged that if given the mandate he would woo investors from the international community into the state. He made the pledge during separate meetings with members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the Apa/Agatu and Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituencies held at Ugbokpo and Otukpo yesterday while soliciting their support to win the party’s primaries. Chief Dr. Ortom also promised to synergize with and integrate traditional rulers into policies of his administration so as utilize them as agents of positive change. Prominent members of the party and royal fathers from the two constituencies also pledged their support and gave Chief Dr. Ortom their blessings saying his antecedents and experience in politics, service at all levels of governance, fear of God, as well as exposure have made him fit to be Governor. The minister said he would deploy his contacts and experience at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to attract investors from Europe, America and Asia to invest in the exploitation of the abundant natural resources of the state and create an enabling environment for such to thrive. He stressed that much as his administration would seek to add value on all sectors of the economy his priority would remain the tackling of security challenges and unemployment through industrialization, small and medium scale enterprises as well as boosting of commercial activities in the state. Chief Dr. Ortom described the clamor by indigenes of the area to become governor as a legitimate aspiration based on equity and fairness pointing out however that without the resolution of all the contending issues by stakeholders in the state the opposition was waiting to exploit any mistake of the PDP on the issue to its advantage. According to him Nigeria would outgrow zoning with time and lay emphasis on excellence in leadership like what is obtained in advanced democracies like the United States of America where a father could be president and his two sons governors of different states with one of them eventually becoming president as well. Those who responded for the two constituencies including Yusufu Ogbole, Anebi Ehoche, Godwin Adobunu, Onyeibi Audu, Nick Ochojila and Godwin Okpoju stated that Chief Dr. Ortom had excelled in all the leadership positions he held and that good things would happen to the people of the state if he became governor. Former National Publicity Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, Chief Simon Shango, and PDP State Chairman, Chief Michael Iduma gave testimonies about the Minister saying he was a team player who had worked in harmony with all the leaders in the state and was also dependable. The paramount royal fathers for Apa, Agatu, Otukpo and Ohimini, Chiefs John Antenyi, Sunday Oyi’gadu, Samuel Onuh, and John Ochai, gave Chief Dr. Ortom their blessings. Dressed in Idoma traditional regalia the minister also inaugurated his ward campaign teams in the four local government areas.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:32:15 +0000