Prof Moses Msugh Kembe: 5th Vice Chancellor,Benue state University,Makurdi


There is a popular saying, that leadership is ordained by God and he gives to anyone he pleases. The truth of this saying cannot be doubted as it has once again manifested clearly in the appointment of Professor Msugh Moses Kembe as the 5th Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi out of 11 other distinguished professors who contested the exalted position.
Since the establishment of Benue State University 22 years ago, it has had 4 past Vice Chancellors. They include: Professor Emeritus, Charles Gbilekaa Vajime who was the Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Iyornongo Ker, Professor Paul Akase Sorkaa and
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Professor Charity Ashimem Angya, the 4th and 1st Female Vice-Chancellor whose tenure expired on Monday, November 2, 2015. It was in this line of succession that on Thursday, October 15, 2015, the Executive Governor of Benue State and Visitor to the University, Dr. Samuel Ortom appointed Professor Kembe as the 5th Vice-Chancellor of this citadel of excellence established in 1992 by the then Governor, Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu as the First State University in Northern Nigeria.
The circumstances surrounding the appointment of Professor Kembe as the substantive Vice- Chancellor of Benue State University is rather very significant. The new Vice-Chancellor keenly contested the race with other distinguished professors and erudite scholars who were also eminently qualified to occupy the office, but God who ordains leadership and uses human beings as instruments to effect the divine call to leadership chose Professor Msugh Moses Kembe for the position. 
The new Vice-Chancellor has a tall vision for the institution which according to him is “to reposition the University as an Information and Communication Technology-driven centre of excellence impacting on the State, National and International development by producing ‘cutting-edge’ innovation and training manpower capable of competing anywhere in the world”. This vision according to the 53 year old Professor of Statistics is targeted at attaining the founding mission of the University which is “To be a Centre of Excellence in creating knowledge and developing a complete person who is capable of not only responding to the cultural, social, political and economic needs of the environment but also setting the agenda for change”.
It is very delightful to note, that following the official announcement of Professor Kembe as the new Vice-Chancellor, those who were in the race with him demonstrated maturity as they came forward to congratulate him on his appointment and pledged their total support for the attainment of his vision as the 5th Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious institution. This show of uncommon solidarity by Prof. Kembe’s co-contestants is commendable because in other environments, their camps could have chosen to strategize to frustrate or sabotage his administration but we are confident this will not be the case since the new Vice-Chancellor’s co-contestants promptly expressed their readiness to team-up with him for the development of the University. This singular development is a good omen for the success of Professor Kembe’s tenure as the 5th Vice-Chancellor.
The Professor of Statistics also demonstrated a great sense of responsibility as a leader with an open mind following his appointment. In an open letter of appreciation he posted on his social media account to his friends, Professor Kembe gave special recognition to his co-contestants. He also pledged to carry all stakeholders of the University along in his administration. Part of the letter reads:
“I wish to in a very special way thank all the contestants who stood in the race for the position of Vice-Chancellor, Benue State University.  Special recognition goes to Professor Nicholas Akise Ada and Professor Julius Begha Ashiko, who keenly contested the office of Vice-Chancellor with me and have called to congratulate me and pledge their support for the growth of the Benue State University, Makurdi. It was indeed a brotherly contest.
“Let me clearly state here that there is a lot of work to be done by all stakeholders of the University. Let us all dedicate ourselves diligently to the course of building a more robust citadel of excellence where generations will acquire knowledge for the liberation of our society as captured succinctly in the motto of the University “Scientia Liberatio Populorum”- Knowledge for the Liberation of the People”.
Born about 53 years ago in Binev Council Ward of Tombo Mbalagh in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, Professor Kembe began his educational career at the famous Bristow Secondary School, Gboko in 1974 and graduated in 1979 with the West African Senior School Certificate. He gained admission into the prestigious University of Jos in 1980 and obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Mathematics in 1984.
The quest for more knowledge took Professor Kembe to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka between 1990 and 1992 where he diligently pursued his academic dream and earned a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Statistics specializing in Operations Research. With a great zeal to reach the zenith of his academic pursuit, Professor Kembe again attended the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi from 2006 to 2009 and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Statistics. To sufficiently prepare himself for the management of human and material resources, he again studied and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from the University of Mkar, Mkar in 2014.   
Professor Kembe cut his teeth in the teaching profession in Igueben Girls’ Secondary School in the old Bendel State now Edo State during his National Youth Service from 1984 to 1985. Upon completion of his mandatory one year of National Service to his fatherland, Professor Kembe took an appointment as an Assistant Lecturer with the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State where he lectured and rose to the rank of Lecturer I in 1991.
Professor Kembe joined the services of the Benue State University, Makurdi in 1993 as a Lecturer II in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Statistics in 2012 following his track record of excellence in scholarship. At the Benue State University, before becoming Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kembe held various administrative positions including Member of Senate, Dean, Faculty of Science, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Science, Head, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Examinations Officer, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and membership of several committees of the University.  In all these positions, he offered dedicated and meritorious service to the University community.  
During his tenure as the immediate past Dean, Faculty of Science, Professor Kembe contributed immensely to the expansion of the Faculty by bringing on board six new academic programmes and students have already been admitted to study these courses. The courses include B.Sc. Statistics, B.Sc. Industrial Chemistry, B.Sc. Environmental Management and Toxicology, B.Sc. Zoology and Environmental Biology, B.Sc. Microbiology and B.Sc. Plant Science and Biotechnology. These courses have already been granted accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The introduction of these academic programmes under the leadership of Professor Kembe propelled the Faculty of Science to an unrivalled position in the University as it marked the first in the recent history of the University that up to six new academic programmes were introduced in one Faculty at the same time. 
Professor Kembe has many years of research experience as a consultant with local and international organizations. He has consulted for the British Department for International Development (DFID), Benue State Health Systems Fund and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Makurdi. He played an invaluable role on the technical team that competed and won World Bank grant for Benue State University for the establishment of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) specifically devoted to the Control of Post Harvest Losses in the Sub-Saharan African region. This development won accolades for the University considering that out of the ten Universities that won the grant in Nigeria, only Benue State University is owned by a State. 
Professor Kembe is an astute and versatile scholar who has attended many conferences, seminars and workshops and has published in reputable national and international journals. The new Vice-Chancellor has special interest in operations research which is essentially concerned with optimal allocation of resources and how this can be applied in education, business, industry, commerce, healthcare and many other fields of human endeavour.
Professor Kembe has rendered many community services and received many awards from corporate organizations and communities for his enormous positive contributions to humanity.  He is a member of several professional organizations and associations including Statistical Association of Nigeria, the Institute of Mediators and Conciliators, Contact Friendship Club 1994, Makurdi, member Makurdi Club 1930 and the immediate past President, Benue State University Senior Staff Club. He is widely traveled and his hobbies include playing tennis, football and listening to cool music.  Professor Kembe is a devout Catholic. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus in the Roman Catholic Church. He is happily married to Professor Elizabeth Kembe and the marriage is blessed with four children.   
As Professor Msugh Kembe settles down to his new assignment as the 5th Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious Benue State University, we call on all stakeholders and development partners in the education sector to key into Professor Kembe’s lofty vision for the University through collective will. It is our prayer that the Good Lord who chose this humble man for this exalted position will endow him with wisdom and good health of mind and body for the onerous task of leading our dear University to conform to global academic best practices.
Nongu is a Postgraduate Student for Master of Science (M.Sc.) in the Department of Mass Communication, Benue  State University, Makurdi, Nigeria   
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Press statement by former Gv Suswam



Press Statement by the Immediate Past Governor of Benue State, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam in Response to Incessant Attacks on Him by Samuel Ortom's APC led Government in Benue State.
Before Ortom forgets why he is in Government House
Since coming into power, my successor and incumbent Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, seems to be overwhelmed or probably has forgotten the supposed mission that took him to Makurdi Government House and is on a daily basis devising desperate means to smear my name before the unsuspecting Benue people.
Recently, the Governor through his media adviser, Tahav Agerzua, took a good part of his time dishing out malicious and demeaning statements on my person in the media.
My only crime, as stated in their statement, was that I accused the state government of been responsible for the petition against me at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
But how was I wrong? What I saw is what I said. It is the same issues raised against me by the former Head of Service, Mr. Mike Iordye’s committee that was set up to do a hatchet job that are raised in the petition in issue by the hired petitioner. So, why is Ortom afraid to claim responsibility?
Those who are followers of political developments in our dear state would have observed, and correctly too, that I have, since leaving Government House, refrained from replying the maliciously fabricated lies and other unwarranted attacks on my person that have become the defining paradigm of the Ortom administration. That my name and supposed misdeeds are recited like strings of rosary at functions as insignificant as naming ceremonies is no longer news.
In order to keep the records straight for posterity, it behooves me to make certain clarifications, especially as regards the diatribes against me by Ortom's image maker.
1. It is on record that since the creation of Benue State, I am the first, as the 4th Executive Governor of the state, to have formally passed onto a successor handover notes containing hardcore records with facts and figures. So, it is unfortunate that, in characteristic malevolence towards me, Gov. Ortom, barely six months into his administration, has forgotten that the handover notes I gave to him on the 28th May 2015 were the outcome of the joint transition committee that was set up. As a mater of fact, the joint committee organised the handover ceremony which was elaborately done with wide press coverage.
The meaning of hostility may be different in a dictionary used by the Governor. Otherwise, when he came for a courtesy call on me, did I run away or did he compel me to receive him? I had the option to decline his courtesy call on me, but never did so and he and his team were accorded dignifying reception and attention on all issues. I extended to him sufficient goodwill and support to aid and smoothen the logistical and sundry needs he had preparatory to his formal inauguration and this much was evident in the Special Utility Vehicles I bought for him and his Deputy, without any prompting from any quarters whatsoever. I conducted him around the Government House on an extensive and comprehensive tour to see for himself the up-to-date facilities I was going to handover to him; the same facilities he later turned around to allege were vandalised by me and as such claims a need for hundreds of millions to refurbish. But these are facilities I myself put in place at great cost and which are adjudged to be amongst the best in this country. 
Where then is there any indication of hostility, non-supportiveness and discourtesy from me towards Gov. Ortom, as he now wants the world to believe? It is however, on record that I on my part did not received any such warm and supporting welcome from my predecessor, George Akume. Painting a dishonest picture that I frustrated the committee and displayed "hostility" towards him is rather absurd and laughable.
2. On the debt profile of the state, I still maintain that it is either Ortom's handlers are lacking the basic knowledge of accounting principles or as is more likely, it is same vengefulness and ill-will which informs their making such an open and deceitful mockery of the Benue economic situation. 
Records are there to speak for itself. I left but only a debt profile of N9.7bn. This was basically the balance from the N17bn I borrowed as commercial Bank Loans and bonds.  But in computing what the Ortom administration funnily terms the debt profile of my administration, some contractual obligations we entered into without any commitment with contractors amounting to over N50bn were added as debts. Salaries of workers which were only delayed but not denied for obvious reasons this government too is currently grappling with, were equally added to make it bogus by all means.
The entire world heard how Ortom's government kept dishing out figures, from N90bn, N130bn, and again N190bn as the debt profile left by my administration. What a pitiable inconsistency? And how else would one explain such a travesty?
3. It is rather unfortunate that the Ortom administration is using every means, including manipulating the innocence and gullibility of the unsuspecting Benue public, to engage in political machinations and intrigues. When I recruited people, as a matter of fact, indigenes of the state, into the civil service to replace those who had retired, died, or were incapacitated due to one reason or the other, Gov. Ortom came in raising false alarm that I had recruited people when there were no resources to pay the employed workers. Those I recruited were hastily and summarily sacked without due process followed. But barely two months into office, is the same government not recruiting massively? And are they not owing workers now? The exercise that was done through due process was cancelled and it is now being done all over again through the back-door, not following due process. The truth is that the law is supreme and those workers who were so unlawfully sacked and who have gone to court will certainly get justice and then this administration which is so bent on manipulating virtually everything will have to deal with the attendant consequences which in this case would surely include an over-bloated workforce.
Let it be known too that when I left government, workers of the state were being owed four months including teachers, while those at the Local Government were being owed two months. This, most painfully was necessitated by the economic downturn that badly affected the country. Many lies were told about this by the people in government today. But what are they telling the people now?
The Ortom administration came, borrowed N10bn bank loan, took N2.7bn and 2.10bn as share from LNG for Local Governments and states respectively, collected an improved monthly statutory allocations for May and June 2015 amongst other very many other consistent revenue accruals. Let us not forget that same govertnment made it public that the entire amount needed to upset the four months arrears was N12.7bn. 
Regrettably, in just five months in office, Council staff are already owed three and half months. What a change!
4. I have said it before and do proudly maintain that I came and worked hard to improve the infrastructural base of this state. The landmark achievements of my stewardship in that regard stand visibly tall for anyone to see. I challenge anyone, including Gov. Ortom and his team, to take a bearing in any village in this state and go fifty kilometres North, East, South and West and if the impact of my stewardship as Governor of Benue State is not felt there, then such a person is surely not within the state.
5. I have done my bit and I am out of the system. When I came, I saw that the system was far from credible including the civil service, structures of MDAs etc, yet I kept quiet and did my best. This, perhaps was because I was not desperate to be Governor. I had prepared myself and was well armed with a blueprint for the state. As a result, I had hit the ground running soon as I came in and that was why in my first hundred days in office,  I had a lot to showcase by way of solid developmental milestones to the Benue people. This was not because I had such a comfortable bed of roses for my administration to take-off on. No. This was possible because I came into office as Governor prepared, as such, though there were the same kinds of distractions from both high and low quarters, I was able to stay focused and deliver on the core objectives of my blueprint right from the inception of my administration. I deeply appreciate Benue people for the wonderful time I had leading them. I have won elections four times through the ballot and this by any means is no mean feat, and only someone with an undemocratic mindset would undermine that. ‘Popularity’ as connotes democratic process is indeed a relative term. Let us see to the end of the electoral struggle to conclude on popularity.
6. The only problem our country faces now is to allow some persons who have more than tripple personalities and can speak from both sides of their mouth to lead. Elsewhere where leaders' statements are carefully weighed and scrutinised,  we would have been better placed.
At the verge of the expiration of my tenure around October 2014, Governor Samuel Ortom said, "... I must thank the Executive Governor of Benue State, Mr Infrastructure, Rt Hon. Gabriel Torwua Suswam who has done so well for this great state of Benue. He has worked so hard that we sometimes wonder what the next governor will do because he has done practically everything. Don’t mind the opposition, the Aggrieved Politicians Congress (APC).They are bent on tarnishing the good image of our governor but Benue people know better.”
Today, the same Governor is saying, "...government machinery and institutions were totally grounded in the state while salaries, pensions and gratuities, both at the state and local levels remained unpaid for several months". So, which should we take?
7.   Let me emphasize here that the issues I raised in my interview are there and if Ortom and his team know their role in Makurdi Government House, let him address them and stop the needless attacks on my person. I had said it earlier that lies could only be temporal; soon, the chicken shall come home to roost. 
I have at the tip of my fingers all dirty and underhand deals so far perpetrated by this administration and would keep quiet no more. Ortom and his handlers should understand that since I have discovered that my silence for the sake of peace and progress of the state has been mistaken for foolishness and timidity, this response is just but part one of the others to follow.
Rt. Hon. Gabriel T. Suswam, PhD
Fmr. Executive Governor 
Benue State.
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Contest for APC national publicity secretary hots up

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Borno governor alleges 2 local councils under Boko Haram control

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima,has revealed that Boko Haram militants are occupying two local governments in his state, contrary to the impression that the militants are not in control of any Nigerian territory.Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State
The local councils under effective boko Haram occupation are Abbadam and Mobar.
Indeed, Shettima, in his shocking revelation, said the militants are also in partial control of a third local council, Marte.
The governor made the shocking disclosure at the weekend while briefing a visiting Federal Government delegation led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Babachir David Lawal.
Shettima said: “They(Boko Haram) are at present controlling two local governments in Borno State; Abadam and Mobbar and they are partially in Marte.”
He added: ”At some point, Boko Haram overran 20 out of our 27 local government areas in Borno State. They overran four local government areas in Adamawa and two in Yobe.”
Lt. Gen Buratai, the chief of army staff has disputed Shettima’s claim.
“No Boko Haram is holding any territory in Nigeria at the momment, I have not heard any Boko Haram member or leader making such claim, they are no more in control,”, Buratai told reporters in Jos yesterday after addressing troops at the Headquarters of 3 Division, the Marxwel Khobe Cantonment.
“We are more determined and we have more professional soldiers on the ground, we have been trained and equipped and ready to face the challenge, if any, posed by Boko Haram”, he added.
He also reiterated that the military would keep faith with the December deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari to root out Boko Haram: “I can confidently say we are on course, we are mindful of our target, and we know we have two months to achieve that target. We don’t have doubt in our minds, we will achieve our target by December 31.”
Governor Shettima had once incurred the wrath of the military and former President Goodluck Jonathan when he said the Nigerian military was ill-equipped to fight the Boko Haram insurgents. He was abused in return.
But months after, top military brass admitted he was correct.

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Tribunal sacks speaker,20 other legislators in Rivers



PIC. 14. CROSS-SECTION OF JUDGES AT THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE 2015-2016 FCT LEGAL YEAR IN ABUJA ON MONDAY (26/10/15). 3839/26/10/2015/OTU/BJO/NAN
PIC. 14. CROSS-SECTION OF JUDGES AT THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE
2015-2016 FCT LEGAL YEAR IN ABUJA ON MONDAY (26/10/15).
3839/26/10/2015/OTU/BJO/NAN
The Elections petition tribunals sitting in Abuja have sacked Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Owaji Ibani and 20 other lawmakers.
Ibani is representing Andoni constituency in the state assembly.
The lawmakers were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party on April 11 2015 in an election reportedly marred by irregularities.
The development is coming barely three days after a tribunal also nullified the election of Nyesom Wike as governor of the state.
Similarly, the Leader of the State Assembly, Martins Amaewhule representing Obio-Akpor constituency 1 was also removed.
Also cancelled are Tai State Constitituency, Obio-Akpor Constituencies One and Two, Akuku-Toru One and Two, Opobo Nkoro, Bonny, as well Degeme, ONELGA One, Gokana Constituencies one and two and Etche Two Constituency.
DAILY POST reports that the State and National Assembly Election Tribunal held that the PDP candidates for Tai and Gokana were not duly elected due to substantial noncompliance with the regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Tribunal ordered fresh elections to be conducted in the affected constituencies within ninety days.
In his reaction; Matthew Dike of the APC in Tai Constituency dedicated the judgment to God, adding that he was confident of victory in the re-run.
On his part; the APC candidate for Gokana State Constituency, Innocent Barikor thanked God and assured that he was ready for another round of election.
The lawmaker representing Degema Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Farah Dagogo, described the Election Petition Tribunal that nullified his election as vexatious.
A statement released by the lawmaker explained that he has already began the process of appealing the provocative judgement.
The election for Oyigbo Constituency was upheld by the Tribunal, as well the election PDP’s KELECHI NWORGU for Omuma State Constituency.
Also upheld are the elections for Ogu-Bolo, Abua-Odual, ONELGA Two, PHALGA One and Three, Emohua and Ahoada West.
The former Leader of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd who contested to represent Emohua Constituency said the dismissal of his election by the Justice Mu’azu pindiga-led tribunal on the ground that his political party, the APC, did not give INEC the mandatory 21 days notice for primaries is not in order.
Lloyd who made references to the court of appeal ruling that decided the 21 day matter in Wike versus Peterside and Dawari versus Goodhead said he will not hesitate to Appeal the Judgement of Justice Pindiga.




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