Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said on Saturday that the era of rigging elections were gone forever, advising those planning to rig elections in 2019 to shelve the idea in their own interest.
Ortom made the remark at the funeral of the late Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, Comrade David Ukuma, at LGEA Primary School in Anshiva of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
The late state NUJ chairman died after a brief illness on August 25, 2018 at the age of 45 leaving behind a wife and three children.
The governor while speaking also noted that for the Benue people, the issues at stake in 2019 were so grave that no one could subvert the will of the people through rigging and get away with it.
He therefore urged Nigerian citizens in the state to safeguard and use their permanent voter’s card effectively to define their future as he eulogised the deceased and described him as a talented broadcaster who excelled in his profession.
On his part, the Reverend Father, Barnabas Nyam of St. Michael’s Quasi Parish, Gbeji, in his homily, cautioned those living to prepare for their death because all humans were mortals.
Nyam further called on leaders in the country to promote development and progress rather than pulling one another down.