News
Sad! Gov Alia mourns Prof Orkar, elder brother of Major Gideon Orkar
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has mourned the death of the first Professor of “Zwa Tiv,” (Tiv Language) Prof. Kpamor Orkar.
This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula in Makurdi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orkar was the elder brother of Maj. Gideon Orkar who was sentenced to death by the Ibrahim Babagida military regine for his involvement in a coup plot to unseat him.
Orkar died at a private hospital in Abuja, on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Alia said Orkar would always be remembered for some of the finest Tiv literary publications, authoring several books written in Tiv language.
The governor described the late Orkar as a great community leader, father and builder of many, adding that his influence as a politician and public servant, extended far beyond his immediate family and professional circle.
He said Orkar’s public service, excellence, knowledge, wisdom, guidance, and mentorship has shaped many generations, and would continue to inspire many to strive for excellence.
He prayed to God to console his immediate family, the people of Makurdi Local Government Area and Benue as a whole, and to equally grant Orkar eternal rest.
NAN reports that Orkar was a former councillor representing the Ugondo/ Mbasambo council ward of Gwer gocal government area in 1978.
He was a member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Yonov District Constituency of Makurdi local government in 1979.
He also served as commissioner for Works and Transport in the former governor Aper Aku’s administration.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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