Benue youths laud Ortom on successful conduct of third council polls

By Dansu Peter 

The Benue Youths Forum has lauded Governor Samuel Ortom over the peaceful and successful conduct of just concluded Local Government Polls.

The President of the BYF, Terrence Kuanum in a statement said Governor Ortom has broken the jinx by approving and providing the funds needed for the conduct of the election.

He said, "We have observed with keen interest the conduct of local government elections in Benue State since the return of democracy in 1999 where council elections have hardly been conducted more than two times in a two-term administration of a Governor. 

"However, Governor Samuel Ortom has broken the jinx by approving and providing the funds needed by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC to conduct a record of three successful local government elections in his two term tenure as Governor of Benue State and we find this worthy of commendation. 

"Benue State under Governor Ortom has conducted local government elections in 2017, 2020 and 2022.

"Our commendation to the Governor is drawn from the fact that he has entrenched and upheld democratic tenets and principles by conducting local government elections as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, unlike some of his counterparts in other states who have resorted to the use of caretaker administrations instead of elected officials.

"The local government is the closest administration to the people and allowing the people to choose for themselves who becomes their chairman and councilor is a laudable democratic practice of given power to the people.

"Governor Ortom has demonstrated commitment to the development of local government areas by not only providing infrastructure and other development projects at the 3rd tier of government but by also ensuring that the choice of persons for elective positions is based on the yearnings of the people.

"We equally commend the Governor for providing a level playing field where a number of youths have emerged as local government council chairmen and councilors.

"While we congratulate the newly elected local government council chairmen and councilors and urge them to deliver on the mandate given to them by the people and the confidence reposed in them.  

"We reassure Governor Ortom of our unflinching support to his administration and commend him on development strides in the State" he said