Why Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom is calling for 30-day fasting and prayers.
Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has made a solemn call to all residents of the state to embark on a 30-day fasting and intense prayer for God’s intervention and favour in dealing with the volatile security situation in the state.
The governor who made the call on Thursday, April 23 at the occasion of his 59th birthday celebration in Makurdi said that the people must stand in prayer against herdsmen attack which has so far caused a lot of tragedy in the state. At the backdrop of the hardship caused by COVID-19 lockdown in the country, the people of Benue are having to deal with renewed herdsmen attacks.
Ortom said he had to resort to prayers for divine intervention following the recent onslaught against his people by the herdsmen.
“I have decided to, at the personal level as governor and as Samuel Ortom, declare a 30-day prayer and fasting, and for those who are able to fast for a day or half a day or not fasting at all that Benue people should pray together,” he said.
The herdsmen crisis which has persisted over a period of at least four years has remained a huge concern to the people who are at the receiving end of the conflict. In January 2018 alone, Amnesty International reports indicate that 168 people were killed as a result of herdsmen-farmer clashes.
But after many failed attempts at persuading the Federal Government to deploy the military to deal with the situation once and for all, Ortom, by his latest submission seems to have left the people to fate.
He, however, pointed out that the prayers were not for the herdsmen conflict alone, but also for atonement and asking God to heal the land from the COVID-19 pandemic. He called for patience during the COVID-19 lockdown while describing it as the right thing to do. Benue currently has one case of COVID-19.
He added that he owed the people a great deal for their love and support by voting for him in 2015 and again in 2019; promising to work hard to provide good governance.
