Students of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, UAM, have asked Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to declare February 23 of every year as independence day for the Benue people.
The student made the call on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Benue Government House, Makurdi.
President of the Students Union Government, SUG, Jacob Dajo said the call was necessitated by the simple fact that the Benue people got political freedom from those who held the state hostage on that day.
The students stated that it was heart warming for people of the state to retire a demi-god who had held the state hostage for several years, saying the day was worth celebrating by people of the state.
They commended Ortom for his reforms in the education and agric sectors particularly, the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
Jacob Dajo said Benue people will surely reciprocate the good gesture of the Governor by voting massively for his re-election next Saturday. “I am confident that if we return you to office, we would have done ourselves and our future some good.”
The students, however, appealed to the governor to rehabilitate some of the roads in the school premises and also provide them with a bus to ease transportation of student within and outside the campus.
Responding, Gov. Samuel Ortom acknowledged the support of the students to his administration, saying he remained committed to people oriented leadership that accommodates superior arguments from the led.
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He stated that he had been freed from the dictates of a godfather and is now poised to provide quality leadership to people of the state.
“Since I got myself liberated politically, I have been flying like a dove.”
The Governor urged the students to make their studies a priority in order to prepare themselves to be able to take over leadership from the present crop of leaders.
“Make your studies a priority. Study hard. Your parents are waiting for you to come out in flying colours and take up certain responsibilities and to take care of them. You cannot afford to fail them”, he said.
