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Governor Samuel Ortom has challenged local government council chairmen in Benue state to emulate their counterpart from Gboko, Mr Isaac Mtom who has embarked on construction of a modern market abandoned by successive regimes thirty-one years ago.
The governor who gave the charge in Gboko, the traditional headquarters of Tiv Nation while commissioning the ongoing modern market project, urged elected officers to always place service of the people above their personal interests.
He observed that the market which was started by the then chairman of Gboko local government council, Arch John Uan in 1991 have been abandoned for over 31 years, lauding the council chairman for demonstrating capacity and exhibiting integrity in resuscitating the project within three months in office.
The governor added that Mr Mtom has shown that young men can be entrusted with leadership and will deliver democratic dividends to the people that trusted him with their mandate.
“Since assuming office in 2015, I have conducted three local government elections and sworn – in chairmen but I have not seen this development in any of the council’s. This chairman has exhibited integrity within a short time in office. I advise him to serve the people and have fear of God because tomorrow, you will be given bigger responsibility. I urge other local government chairmen to emulate this developmental project.”
He therefore, called on the people to continue to support the chairman to execute more projects that will benefit them, assuring his administration will create an enabling environment for young people to realize their potential.
Earlier, the Council Chairman, Mr Isaac Mtom said he was five years old when the market project was initiated by the then chairman, Arch John Uan.
“When I came on board, I decided to prioritize the completion of this modern market to decongest the main Gboko market in addition to provision of a Police post and installation of a transformer which was donated by governor Samuel Ortom.”
“As a young man, I am challenged to leave a legacy for more youths to be saddled with leadership positions. The modern market has 56 lines named after prominent Benue indigenes including Governor Samuel Ortom; Senators George Akume; Barnabas Gemade; Iyorchia Ayu and David Mark,” he said.
According to him, the abandoned market has over 1000 stores and 16 warehouses, noting that with the completion of the facility, the Internally Generated Revenue of the council will rise up.
The occasion also witnessed the conferment of traditional chieftaincy titles on governor Samuel Ortom, the council chairman and several others by Gboko traditional council.