Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom on Tuesday debunked speculation that he was rearing snakes but admit to rearing poultry, snails, goats among others.
The governor, who told journalists in Makurdi, lamented that the news was anchored on falsehood with the intention to cast aspersion and portray him in a bad light.
Mr Ortom said though owning a snake farm was not a crime, as it is a legitimate means of business, yet he had never contemplated undertaking such an activity.
He said that he was currently rearing poultry, piggery, snail, cattle, goats, mushroom among others but cannot and would not venture into snake farming.
He said that he had a scheme were victims of snake bites had been receiving treatment since 20 years ago.
The governor said he had an arrangement with St Theresa’s and Rahama Hospitals all in Makurdi to treat snake bite victims and bill him.
Between February and June, he said, an outstanding bill of over N30 million was settled to victims and none of the victims was related to him.
He said that he decided to initiate the scheme because most of the victims were usually peasants or poor people who cannot adequately foot the bills of their treatments and he stepped in so as to save lives and not because he had money.
Mr Ortom said that if he had the power he would have killed all snakes in the world so that people could be free from snake bites.
He admonished his opponents to strive to base their criticisms on critical issues rather than “baseless and unfounded as well as unthinkable” things.
He said that it was his desire to take Benue to lofty heights as such he would partner with any individual or group of persons that might have useful ideas that could add value to his governance.
He promised that the remaining part of his tenure would be more fruitful because many dividends of democracy would trickle down to every nook and cranny of the state.
