With just N40bn, I’ll clear salary arrears, turn Benue to London – Ortom

…accuses past administrations of stealing N109bn

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said he would be needing about N40bn to clear civil servants salary arrears and also turn Benue into London.

Ortom made this statement on Wednesday during a phone-in programme monitored on Harvest FM, Makuurdi.

According to the governor, the past administration led by Gabriel Suswam looted over N109bn from the state and he had been working round the clock to recover it.

He said, “The past administration stole over 109 billion, if I recover just 40 billion (which is the difference of all salaries and arrears of salaries in Benue state,) I’ll finish the issue of salaries and develop Benue into London.

“I wanted to be paying half salary every month but Labour leaders said, instead, I should pay full salary in every 2 months. And that is what I have been doing.”

Recently a former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro had lashed out at Ortom, saying he does not deserve a second term.

The PDP stalwart described Ortom’s utterance about second term as an affront to the sensibilities of the citizenry in Benue State as he was yet to do anything meaningful to justify the current mandate given to him by the people.