Gboko the ancient headquarters of the Tiv nation last Friday, October 7, 2022, stood still as hundreds of jubilant people comprising traders, youths and women groups, socio-cultural associations, motorcyclists popularly known as ‘okada riders’, taxi drivers, opinion leaders, and teeming party supporters among others, trooped out to welcome Governor Samuel Ortom who was arriving Gboko town to the commission the Gboko Modern Market.
The mammoth crowd that turned out on the Governor’s arrival, welcomed him around Yandev close to Buruku junction along the Gboko-Makurdi expressway. The Governor’s convoy had to drive slowly for over an hour through ain Downes road, to JS Tarka Way and then navigated through Chief Isaac Shaahu road in Gboko South with the jubilant crowd chanting songs of solidarity as they led him to the main venue of the market commissioning ceremony.
Governor Ortom’s itinerary in Gboko, was not a political rally, nor was it a campaign tour, but Arnor’s presence profoundly excited the people of the town, obviously for what he has transformed Gboko into under his tenure as Benue State Governor. One could see the palpable love for Governor Ortom whose humble beginnings and rise to stardom are traceable to the ancient town as he has always testified proudly saying “I am a Gboko boy”.
It was therefore not surprising, that at the event of the commissioning of the market which is a local government project, the Gboko Traditional Council used the opportunity with the full compliments of the traditional institution led by the Ter Gboko, His Royal Highness, Chief Gabriel Shosum who bestowed on Governor Ortom, the honorific chieftaincy title of the “Ishima I Gboko” which translates as the “Heart of Gboko” and the Governor’s wife, Dr. Eunice Ortom the supporting title of “Afa Ishima I Gboko’ for the impact the Governor’s administration has made in the area.
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