Ortom hails Buhari for renaming varsity after Tarka

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Thursday applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for renaming the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi after the late Senator Joseph Tarka.

Buhari had on Wednesday signed the bill renaming two major institutions in the country: the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi now Joseph Sawuan Tarka University, Makurdi and the Nigeria Prison Service to Nigeria Correctional Service.

Tarka was one of the famous politicians in the first and second republics and one of the founding members of the defunct United Middle Belt Congress.

He died on March 30, 1980 in London.

A former military dictator, General Sani Abacha, had on  December 8, 1996 created and named a local government after J.S. Tarka, known as Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State.

Ortom, while speaking with journalists at the Government House, Makurdi also lauded the National Assembly for passing the bill which sought to effect the change of the name of the institution.

He thanked the House of Representatives member, John Dyeh,  who sponsored the bill.

Ortom said, “Today, the like of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamidi Azikiwe and  Sir Ahmadu Bello, all of the blessed memory and several other heroes that have been immortalised, so we appreciate Mr President for honouring our great son,” the governor said.