MAKURDI – Former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom on Friday declared his intention to contest for the governorship seat of Benue in 2015.
Ortom made the declaration in Makurdi before some of his supporters after picking the nomination and expression of interest forms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said that he had a five-point agenda which would accelerate development in the state if he was able to win the party ticket in the primaries and got elected in 2015.
The former minister said he was sad that about 75 per cent of Benue youths were poor and a high percentage of them unemployed; thus marginalised and excluded from the scheme of things.
Ortom promised to lift the embargo on employment if elected and also provide good governance.
Among other things, he also pledged to provide social amenities and prevent marginalisation of the minority ethnic groups in the State.
The aspirant said that he would revive schools of agriculture and train critical human resources to fill the skill gaps and enhance agricultural production.
He, however, promised to support any candidate that emerged at the end of the primaries, provided the process was free and fair.(NAN)