The governor of Benue State, North Central Nigeria, Samuel Ortom, has debunked speculations that he is the head of wizards in the state, saying he is a born again Christian.
Ortom made the denial at the opening ceremony of a two-day Governor’s Retreat for Benue State Government appointees in Makurdi, the state capital.
It was the second retreat for the appointees in one week.
The 58 year-old Ortom, a PhD holder, now in his second term as governor, described the speculations as “fallacy and laughable,” saying he had been a born again Christian since 1979.
“Since then I have professed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour,” adding thatthere was no reason for anybody to doubt his religious belief.
He stated further, “I was surprised that at a burial some people even made attaempt to stop me from quoting the Holy Bible during my speech.
“I heard some people saying Ortom is the leader of wizards in Benue but it is not true. I am a child of God.
“I became born again in 1979 and since then God has been good to me.
“I was at a burial somewhere and people accused me of using Bible to do withcraft. They said I should not be allowed to quote the Bible that if I did the people will become speechless.”
Ortom, a former Minister of State for Trade and Industry as well as National Auditor of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also denied claims that he was made governor in 2015 by a godfather.
He said God anointed him Benue governor since 1992 and only perfected it in 2015.
Ortom, who once said he was a motor park tout (agbero), taxi and truck driver, stated that he was confronted by several challenges before he finally became governor.
He said he had almost given up on his governorship in 2017 due to administrative challenges but for God’s intervention.
His words, “In 2017, I almost gave up and decided that I will be a one-term governor and not contest again, but God again said otherwise.
“God told me that those castigating me will be those who will work for my re-election and here we are today in my second term.
“This government is not that type that won elections because of good deeds; godfatherism, federal might, but because of the will of God.
“No one in Benue and Nigeria can boast that he or she made Ortom governor.”
Mr Ortom said God had used him to help people during election in the state.
He explained that part of the challenges he faced was the arrest of his Chief of Staff, Terwase Orbunde and Special Adviser on Development Cooperation, SGDs and NEPAD, Magdalene Dura over alleged missing N4.7 billion by the EFCC. He said the officials had since been vindicated.
The governor enjoined the appointees to be dedicated to their duties and avoid involving themselves in anything that would compel the anti-graft agencies to be on their trail.
“Protect yourself now, avoid corruption because I would not defend anyone found short-changing the government,” Ortom said.