Group condemns Ortom’s call for postponement of census

The Save Nigeria Movement (SNM), has described calls for the postponement of the forthcoming national population and housing census by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state as highly insensitive, unreasonable and antithetical to Nigeria’s development.

SNM Convener, Solomon Semaka, who addressed a press conference in Abuja, said those who lost in the recently conducted election are desperately trying to sow seeds of discord and dissatisfaction.

He said: “Of particular concern to us and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians is the attempt by Governor Ortom to constantly attack, criticise and vilify every Federal Government policy as a way of gaining cheap popularity in the face of blatant inability to perform his constitutional duties to the people of Benue who voted him into power eight years ago.

“Benue State with four Universities and more than five other institutions of higher learning stands to benefit more from this census exercise more than any State.

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“The pool of graduates churned out of these institutions and the need to establish industries to cater for the employment needs of the state through the abundant agro-allied and natural raw materials are just some few benefits of a census to Benue indigenes and Nigerians at large.

“The fact that job creation, industrial and social development and education are the direct benefits of a census exercise is lost on Ortom who uses every opportunity to attack, ridicule and castigate the Federal Government is quite unfortunate.

“Clearly, the fact that Gov Ortom doesn’t see the need to support the Federal Government to successfully conduct the 2023 Census is wrong of him as a leader.

“It’ll be plausible to say Gov Ortom failed because he had no data on the needs of Benue people and certainly does not value data and hence, his attack on the only project that can transform Nigeria through data-driven and sustainable development.

“As critical stakeholders in the Benue and Nigerian project, we appeal to Governor Ortom to separate politics from issues of national interest. Census has nothing to do with his Fulani sentiments and innuendos and twisted narratives.

“Hiding under the banner of insecurity to call for the postponement of a project that’s about to kick off is callous, if insecurity did not stop elections then it can’t stop the 2023 Census.”