<<< By Tahav Agerzua >>>
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has appealed to Christians to support the fight against corruption in the state.
He spoke at St Athanasius Catholic Church, Gbajimba, in Guma local government area yesterday at a retreat organized by priests of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi.
Governor Ortom stated that he took up the fight against corruption with the active support of the Catholic Church which offered regular and consistent prayers against the malaise adding that church members prayed and actively supported his emergence as Governor hence his resolve to take up the fight.
According to him corruption was a major cause of underdevelopment in the country in general and Benue State in particular stressing that it was responsible for the present economic challenges confronting the state hence the need to unite to fight it.
He said if the N10 million facility from the Federal Government could go a long way in addressing the infrastructure deficit in the state one could only imagine what N107 billion could accomplish if it was recovered from those who looted the state treasury.
The Governor stated that there was abundant documented evidence against those indicted by the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry while those who peddle malicious and baseless accusations of fraud against his administration have no proof.
He said anyone with evidence against any government official in his administration should bring it forward for investigation as he had vowed never to condone corruption.
In his sermon the Catholic Bishop of the diocese, Wilfred Anagbe, charged Christians to blossom wherever God had planted them as God would demand an account from them.
He appealed to the people to change their perception of regarding public officials as rich people but rather as servants who should put the interest of the people first.
The cleric commended the development efforts of Governor Ortom particularly the construction of roads in the area and requested prayers that the projects be sustained and completed.
Bishop Anagbe baptized one of the oldest people in Nzorov community who is more than 100 years old, Pa Simeon Kwaghngu during the celebration of mass.