The Benue governor-elect, Dr Samuel Ortom, has expressed appreciation to the people of the state for giving him the mandate to govern them.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Tahav Agerzua, his Media Director, in Makurdi on Friday.
It stated that the governor-elect attributed his victory to God’s intervention in human affairs and the determination of the people to effect change.
The statement stated that Ortom said that his victory at the polls conferred on the APC a huge responsibility to turnaround the fortunes of the state for the better.
It stated that the party could not afford to toy with the responsibility bestowed on it by the masses, describing it as sacred.
The statement enjoined politicians across the country, and indeed, people of the state to be civil and to exercise decorum in their conduct and speech.
It urged them to eschew violence and take every step to accelerate the process of healing and unification.
It stated that Ortom expressed appreciation to the Benue electorate and APC members for their various roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections in the state.
The statement said the governor-elect promised to promote excellence and merit above sycophancy and mediocrity so that the best talents could be harnessed where ever they might be found.