Democracy gift: Ortom pardons 43 prisoners

Benue State governor, Mr Samuel Ortom has granted amnesty to 43 indigent inmates of Benue serving various jail terms in the state.

The governor who declared this at the venue of midterm democracy day at Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB square, Makurdi, yesterday said that with the constitutional power conferred on him he has decided to pardon the prisoners and urged them to sin no more.

Ortom also used the occasion to congratulate President Mohammadu Buhari on the success recorded within the last two hears and expressed confidence that Buhari would soon move the nation’s economy from recession to growth.

The governor however stated that with the mess inherited on assumption of office two years ago, he said his administration had been able to clear the mess and push the state onto path to glory.

While enumerating his achievements in the last two years, the governor said that his administration was able to achieve them due to prudent management and transparency brought into governance.

According to him, “Now we can say that we have enough food to eat and sell, most of those who were crying are beginning to laugh, those who were gloomy are now smiling because thy Lord has been good to us.”

Highlights of the occasion was the flag off of year 2017 cropping season fertilizer sales and distribution to farmers.

He said, “Our administration is fully aware that provision of fertilizer is cardinal to agricultural development in the State. To achieve this, the State Executive Council has approved the procurement of 7,500 metric tons of assorted brands of inorganic fertilizers and 5,000 litres of liquid plant health promoters for supply to Benue farmers at affordable prices for the 2017 cropping season.”