By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—Benue State governor-elect, Samuel Ortom, has promised to rule with the fear of God and also ensure that corrupt government officials were punished in a bid to curb corruption in the state.

He also pledged to provide purposeful leadership so as to galvanize stability, sustainable growth and development in the agrarian state.

Ortom who spoke during a church service at NKST, Yina, in Makurdi, the state capital, noted that one of the ways to conserve scare resources and confront financial challenges presently confronting the state would be to decisively tackle corruption in line with the principles of the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari’s administration at the federal level.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, said that, at personal level, he had forgiven those who offended him as an individual during the campaigns but that he would allow the law to take its course for those who offended the state.

“I therefore enjoin politicians across the divides and indeed all citizens of our state to be civil and to exercise decorum in their conduct and speeches and also eschew violence but take every step to accelerate the process of healing and unification.”

He said his administration would also provide a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive and appealed to those with creative and viable business ideas to bring them forward for funding to be sourced from within and outside the country.

According to Ortom, “I will also implement the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which provides for free and compulsory primary and secondary school education in the state.”

Earlier in his sermon, the Resident Pastor, Kurugh Antyev, had commended Ortom for coming back to show appreciation to God and asked him to reconcile at the personal level with people as he said, but retrieve state funds and property illegally acquired by individuals.

Antyev and elders of the church later presented a copy of the Bible to Ortom and also prayed for his successful tenure.