Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has admonished Benue youths to keep away from illicit drugs and other harmful practices that portend danger to their lives.
Governor Ortom stated this, on Wednesday, in the Government House, Makurdi, when he received members of the Benue Tricyclist Association who visited to endorse him for re-election.
Ortom told the tricyclists that they could move from their present positions to owners of transport industries but that they have to be determined, work hard and desist from all acts capable of ruining their future.
“I was a garage boy just like you; from a motor park tout to a conductor, to a taxi driver, but today I’m a governor. I say this everywhere I go because I want people to be encouraged that if you are focused and you work hard, and you have faith in God, you can attain any height in the society.
He encouraged them to learn from his experience and rise up to prepare their future which he described as bright. “Do not be taken into wayward life but lead a life that is God fearing. Don’t be a victim of police cell by committing crimes. Be orderly. Do things rightly and you will see yourself growing in life.
“Don’t be taken into drunkenness. See what drunk people can do. If you take to drunkenness and you become a senator or a governor, your behaviour will not be good.
“Do not take tramadol because it is a deadly drug. You can have a little excitement but it will destroy you.”
He urged the youth to work hard today for the betterment of their future. “This is the time to plan. Those of you who have dropped out of school should go back and secure your future.”
Ortom said he will collaborate with his Commissioner for Works, Transport and Energy, Mr Emmanuel Manger and management of Benue Investment Property Company, (BIPC) Micro Finance Bank to work out modalities to provide them with soft loans to secure their tricycles.
He thanked the tricyclist operators for identifying with him and endorsing him for re-election saying “the 2019 project does not belong to me alone. It is our project. Do not abandon it. I am with the Benue people and I will not be a sale out.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Benue Tricyclist Association, Benard Orban thanked the Governor for receiving them at short notice.
Orban said “we are here to support and endorse you to continue the good works you are doing in office come 2019.
He acknowledged the Governor’s achievements in office including total renovation of the School of Nursing and accreditation of courses at the school, graduation of medical students at the School of Health Sciences as well as the enactment of Anti Open Grazing Law.
He said “we are solidly behind you and we will go out there to the grassroots, door to door, to carry out peaceful campaigns so that you will make it back to government house.
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“We don’t know the others but Ortom, we know. So it is better we continue with you and with our support you will complete your eight years,” he added.
He told Governor Ortom that their tricycles are owned by individuals who are equally exploiting them through compulsory daily remittance of N2500 until they complete payment of N1.2 million for each tricycle.
He called on the governor to assist them remit the monies.
