Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, has urged Christians to develop interest and participate actively in politics in order to have a say in what happens around them.
He stated this on Sunday February 11, 2018 at the maiden special thanksgiving service for organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Benue province three, Makurdi.
Ortom said without being actively involved and having a Permanent Voters Card there would be no need to talk about bad or good governance, stressing that to have a voice was to be armed with what could make one to vote for a preferred candidate.
Governor Ortom said open grazing cannot coexist with crop farming in the state because they conflict with each other and that would negatively affect the economy of the state which is largely dependent on agriculture.
While advising Benue people against reprisal attacks against those who have invaded the state, he urged them to report information about impending attacks to security agents and also pray for God to fight the remaining part of the battle.
He acknowledged the efficacy of prayers of the church against the invasion and occupation of Benue communities by herdsmen, stressing that with the prayers and the military action code-named operation cat race soon to commence in the state, the challenge would be overcome.
The Governor also stated that those who found themselves wrongly on the payroll of the state had been removed while regular payment of salaries had commenced with effect from January 2018, adding that complaints arising from illegal deductions are being handled.
He claimed that some people had planned to attack him but he has already decided to offer himself like a sacrificial lamb for his people.
He said: “The Bible says ‘you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.’ Nigeria today, we have no business being where we are. We would have been far ahead of where we are today. It is just that for a long time, we have suppressed the truth.
“But the truth is that I have decided to offer myself. If it will require me to pay the supreme sacrifice for saying the truth, I am ready to do it because the time has come that we must stop promoting sycophancy and mediocrity.
“We must promote the truth. We must respect the constitution and the rule of law. The constitution and the law of our land is the only thing that can guide us to greater height. “It is the only thing that can lead us to where we want to be. It is only thing that can promote and project us to rank with other countries that are doing well.
“Was it not just yesterday we said ‘Ghana must go?’ Why is it that on West African soil today the whole world is turning their attention whether in investment or whatever? Ghana has become a reference point against Nigeria.”
In a homily taken from the Book of Lamentations, Pastor Ayoola Adeyanju, regional evangelist, RCCG, Region 19, Lagos who preached on the theme: “great is thy faithfulness,” prayed God to destroy the enemies of the state, stressing that those who love God passionately were bound to enjoy His faithfulness.
Prayers were offered for the Ortom and his family as well as the government and people of the state for victory against the invasion of Benue land while the wife of the Governor, Dr Mrs Eunice Ortom took the scripture reading.
