From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
From a humble beginning, he achieved a meteoric rise to greatness through the dints of hard work which he successfully weaved to a wholesome pursuit of excellence as a way of life.
Born on April 23, 1961, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom, a Nigerian politician, businessman, administrator and Philanthropist will on April 23, be celebrating a life of accomplishment having attained the age of 63.
He was elected two-term governor of Benue State from 2015-2023. Before his election as the fifth civilian governor of the state, he was the Supervising Minister, Federal Ministry of Aviation (2014-2014) and Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (2011 -2015).
His meteoric rise to greatness is a product of uncommon grace and courtly civility laced with humanism and humility.
While serving his term as the executive governor of Benue State, Ortom adopted strategic approach in tackling insecurity, infrastructural decay and socio-economic upliftment of her citizens.
He will be proudly remembered for his doggedness in tackling insecurity in the state where he put his life on the line in defence of the Benue people, through a well thought out Anti- Open Grazing Law, that put him on war path with the Federal Government.
Indeed, Ortom put his life as well as his re-election project on a danger list by standing his ground that he would stop the killer Fulani herdsmen from killing innocent Benue people.
He paid the price for his daring stand as he was eventually showed the way out of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Undeterred, Ortom stood firm, resolute and said that his second term was not important like the lives of his people.
On many occasions, he said that he was ready to lose his own life as well as his seat, if that would ensure the safety and total freedom for Benue people in the hands of killer herdsmen.
Although, he was forced and prevailed upon not to sign the Anti-Open Grazing Law, but he not only signed the law, but also refused to repeal it even when his life was in jeopardy.
Benue people will also remember their former governor for obtaining final accreditation for College of Health Sciences and Benue State Teaching Hospital (BSUTH).
He graduated several hundreds of Medical doctors, reconstructed schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Makurdi as well as College of Health Technology, Agasha amongst several other life changing projects in the state.
As he celebrate his 63rd birthday, may God continue to bless him with long life, wisdom and good health.