I dread snakes, I don’t own snakes farm ―Ortom

BENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom has stated that he has the last 20 years treating victims of snake bites in the state.

To buttress his assertion, the governor said that he is owing a private hospital in Makurdi as at June ending to the tune of N31 million, representing the amount spent on victims of snakes bite within three months.

Governor Ortom disclosed this when he interacted with newsmen in his office shortly after his return from United Kingdom where he spent his two weeks leave.

The explanation of the governor is coming on the heels of the allegation that he has snakes farm in the state and linking the consignment intercepted in Calabar by Nigerian Customs last week which contains snakes, cockroaches and others on social media.

The governor said that in as much as he could not stop anyone wishing to have snakes farm in the state on the ground of the constitution of Nigeria however denied having snakes farm.

Ortom said that he dreads snake because of the pains it has inflicted on the people of the state, stating that since the last 20 years he had set up a foundation which treat victims of snake’s bite where millions of Benue people have been treated so far.

He said  that he has a retainer ship  with St Theresa and Rahama hospitals all located in Makurdi where victims of snakes bite go for treatment, stating that over one million people have so far received treatment in the two hospitals for various degree of snakes bites.

He lamented that snakes have become a burden to the state and if he has the power, he would have killed all the snakes across the state and added that in the last three months he had incurred N31million on treatment of victims of snakes bite.

According to him, ‘as at June ending when the management of St Theresa hospital, Makurdi brought the accumulated bill of three months to me I had incurred N31million for treating victims of snake bite, saying that people should rather encourage someone who is committed to saving lives and philanthropist than to destroy the person. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, on Tuesday, denied allegation making the round that he operates snake farm in the state.

“Just within the month of June 2017, I have incurred over N31million bills from the St Theresa hospital Makurdi for treating victims of snakes bite’.

While stating that he had informed the state Attorney General, Mike Gusa to investigate those behind the unfounded report against his person to proof his claim, Ortom advised that people should  encourage  those  who are committed to saving lives and philanthropists  rather  than to destroy the person.