Samuel Ortom | Consult Widely For My Blueprint – Ortom Charges Strategy Committee

Chief Dr. Ortom

Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment and governorship aspirant in Benue State, Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom has charged members of the policy and strategy committee of his organization to consult widely in fashioning out a blueprint for him.

He spoke at the first plenary of the committee which was held at the conference hall of Smile View Hotel in Makurdi.

Chief Dr. Ortom who is aspiring on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party stated that if given the mandate he would run an inclusive administration and that as such he would appreciate if the committee accommodates views and criticisms from non members as well as all segments of the Benue community.

“I suggest that you could also consult widely and also take advantage of previous and other blueprints in the state and beyond, especially Our Benue, Our Future,” he stressed.

He listed key sectors upon which the committee should concentrate.

These included Industrialization, Trade and Investment, Public Finance and Revenue Generation, Health, Social Services and Utilities, Agriculture and Environment, Rural Development, Information and Communication Technology, as well as Law, Justice and Security.

Others are Education, Science and Technology, Infrastructure, Gender, Children and People with special abilities, Poverty Alleviation, Employment and Job Creation, Tourism, Cultural and Amusement Development, the Structure of Government, Values re-orientation as well as Research, Statistics and Planning.

He charged members to take cognizance of the present condition in all sectors, list problems, indicate what his administration would do to address the gaps, suggest implementation strategy, cost and time frame, as well as work out observable verifiable indicators.

“Even though a few notable people have indicated withdrawal due to their peculiar circumstances many more of such people have offered to be included hence the expansion of the initial list,” he stated.

“The expansion is also intended to accommodate people from as many walks of life as possible as well as various shades of opinion and aspirations,” he noted, adding that “in a democracy, the more the merrier.”

Chief Dr. Ortom pledged that if given the mandate he would govern with the fear of God which he said would translate into wisdom in statecraft, transparency, dedication, accountability, fairness, selflessness, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation which he said would engender unity and unprecedented development and progress.

The minister who also supervises the Aviation Ministry explained that “the committee which has been drawn largely from experienced technocrats from various fields is neither a partisan group nor an arm of my governorship organization.”

“The inclusion of several partisan members is intended to provide a guide to where my passions lie but beyond that the committee’s responsibility is to make available a technical document that will drive our vision and mission for the state,” he maintained.

Chief Dr. Ortom gave the committee which broke up into 16 sub-committees the end of July, 2014 to submit the blueprint.

In his response Committee chairman, Professor Dennis Ityavyar urged members to resolve to bring an excellent blueprint that will be as good as or even better than Governor Suswam’s famous Our Benue, Our Future.

“Ortom is a good product because he loves God, he loves people and he believes in truth as a veritable instrument of social and economic transformation, he stated.

Professor Ityavyar disclosed that several people including opposition members were prepared to work for Chief Dr. Ortom because of his integrity.

“Good governance is an interesting game that involves people, Dr. Ortom has involved all of us to come along with him in laying a foundation of good governance for Benue State, let us move from criticisms to action, “he stated.

The plenary was attended by 135 members.