Opinions

Significance of Governor Ortom’s platinum award

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5 years ago

TODAY, the movers and shakers of the Nigerian society will gather at the prestigious Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, for the conferment of awards by the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc (ANN), publishers of the Nigerian Tribune, on illustrious Nigerians who deserve to be celebrated and encouraged for their selfless service to humanity. The award ceremony is part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of Nigerian Tribune, one of the oldest surviving private and leading newspapers in Nigeria. One of the award recipients will be Samuel Ortom, the Executive Governor of Benue State, who is to be conferred with the 70th Anniversary/Platinum Award for exhibiting Uncommon Courage in Governance and Protection of humanity. The conferment of this award on Governor Ortom is significant in many ways. First, it is not one of those run-of-the-mill awards conferred on the highest bidder by people or organisations whose integrity cannot be vouched for. The platinum award is being given by a globally renowned institution built and run by reputable individuals and professionals.

The Nigerian Tribune was set up in 1949 by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the revered nationalist leader and politician who was reputed for his integrity and is still being idolised by Nigerians, especially his Yoruba people, about 30 years after his death. Nigerian Tribune, one of his many legacies, is being run by members of his family dynasty who have, in their own right, become reputable and well-to-do professionals,led by his daughter, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu. An award coming from such an institution cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand. Closely related to that is the fact that this is the second time, since its establishment 70 years ago, that the Nigerian Tribune will be conferring awards on deserving Nigerians. To be one of the recipients of such a rare award is, therefore, of massive significance. Things that are valuable are those that are rare or uncommon. Ortom is one of only 15 distinguished Nigerians nominated for the Nigerian Tribune Awards. Some of the others to be honoured for one accomplishment or the other are, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Chairman Globacom Communications, Chief Kesington Adebutu, Chairman Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundations,KAAF, Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Sokoto State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State. Others eminent Nigerians to also be conferred with the awards are, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, founder of an NGO, Breast Cancer Assoiciation of Nigeria(BRECAN), Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, the 83 year-old Iman who sheltered over 300 Christians in a mosque during one of the fiercest herders raidsin Nghar village in Plateau state, Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa-Ibom and incumbent Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,former Governor of Ogun state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, former Governor of Oyo State, and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor of Osun State.

It is significant, therefore, that the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom is in the company of such eminent and distinguished personalities nominated by an equally eminent institution like the Tribune for recognition and celebration. But what is most significant is the basis for Ortom’s nomination. In the letter nominating him for the award, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Board Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, said the governor has demonstrated unrivalled zeal and sense of responsibility in the protection of lives and property of Benue people irrespective of ethnic compositions at a time party leaders were playing politics with the carnage perpetrated in the state by marauding herdsmen. She said: “Your Excellency, you had a choice of consolidating your second term ambition in All Progressives Congress, APC, by supporting the Federal Government on the issues of the herdsmen and the establishment of Ruga or Cattle Colonies in your state, but you chose humanity above political consideration and self-survival. You were vilified, but you persevered.” The organisers of the award also identified the efforts made by Governor Ortom in the area of agriculture and youth empowerment as additional factors for nominating him for the award.

The qualification for the award has been so aptly and clearly stated that only unrepentant opponents of the Governor and those who would not see anything good in him, would contest his eligibility for the award. But in spite of these nay Sayers who are clearly in the minority, it is gratifying to note that the majority of Benue people had already appreciated Governor Ortom as a selfless leader of uncommon courage who protected them from external aggressors against all odds. They did this by voting him overwhelmingly for a second term in the recent election. The Nigerian Tribune’s Platinum Award is only an affirmation of the recognition already bestowed on Ortom by Benue people. As Governor Ortom steps out to receive his award today, his mind will go out to all Benue people who constituted the troops behind him in his battle for the protection of his people and territory. He will remember members of the security agencies and other peace-loving and well-meaning organizations and individuals around the world who rallied round him in those trying moments. He will also not forget the adversaries who created the conflict in the first place. He will, as the Bible admonishes, pray for them and their local collaborators so that they will repent and allow peace to continue to reign in the state.

His mind will also go to the victims of the carnage, living (over 170, 000 persons displaced) or dead,(over 1,878 personskilled including 75 infants) whose sacrifice contributed to the return of peace in the state. Their sacrifice will not be in vain. In accepting his nomination for this award, Governor Ortom is convinced that this recognition is not the end, but an incentive to do even more for humanity and the people of Benue State.