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Benue women protest over ‘attacks on Gov Ortom’ by Nigerian govt

September 9, 2021 No Comments

Benue State women under the aegis of Concerned Benue Mothers, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest around the streets of Makurdi, the state capital, in solidarity with the State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who has been at loggerheads with the Federal Government.

The peaceful protest, tagged “5,000 match in support of Governor Samuel Ortom”, was led by a former House of Representatives member, Rebecca Apedzan.

The women all dressed in black, carried leaves and placards with different inscriptions, and declared their unalloyed support to Ortom in his fight to stop the killing of the state residents by armed herdsmen.

Hannatu Ullam, who read a statement on behalf of the women, said the herdsmen have been killing their children, husbands, mothers and sacked the people from their ancenstral homes.

The women called on the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, to tender an apology to the people of the state for calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the state.

The statement reads in part: “We are all aware how our state Governor, Samuel Ortom has been consistent, raising alarm over the sustained killings of innocent Benue citizens by the Fulani herdsmen.

“These Fulani armed militia not only kill our children, husbands, mothers and sack them from their ancestral homes but also rape our daughters and mothers.

“Governor Ortom who has been in the forefront, seeking that the Federal government takes decisive action and end this grave insecurity challenge has rather come under attack by no other person but Senator George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.

As mothers, we are shocked that Senator Akume and his group chose the ignominious path to close their eyes against the pains visited on the people of Benue state by Fulani killer herdsmen. They rather preferred to take sides with a President that has not shown any form of concern at the attacks and killings perpetrated by his kinsmen against the law abiding people of our dear state.

“It is too early in the day for any discerning Benue son or daughter to forget President Buhari’s counsel that we should learn to live with our (killer) neighbours.

“It is surprising that Senator Akume who has benefited so much from Benue State will turn around to seek to destroy it for his selfish reasons. This is someone who was elected Governor for eight years and Senator for twelve years. Now he wants to destroy the same democratic structures that brought him into prominence.

It is sad that Akume and his cohorts seek to trample on the pride of Benue to sing praises of a president and an administration that has failed to secure the lives of Benue people. We make bold to say that Akume’s outing was shameful and smacks of subservience, just to satisfy his masters who have no regards for the lives of the people of our great state.

“We are therefore calling on Senator Akume to make haste to tender an unreserved apology to the peace-loving people of Benue and His Excellency, Governor Ortom in order to avoid the wrath of the gods of the land.

“As a former governor, he should be in the forefront speaking against the mindless shedding of blood by herdsmen and not seen to be promoting hate on our governor for speaking truth to power simply because of political differences.”

In reaction, Ortom said he remains unshaken in ensuring peace in the State.

Ortom said: “I remain committed to Benue people. Whatever you want me to do, I will do. Nobody will intimidate me. The prohibition of open grazing has come to stay. Whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, you are free to operate here in Benue State as long as you operate in accordance with the law.

Politics

Buhari has hidden agenda to Fulanise Nigeria —Gov Ortom

August 24, 2021 No Comments

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of a hidden agenda to fulanise Nigeria.

He alleged that the president was in support of the activities of Fulani herdsmen who were terrorizing citizens, and killing people in efforts to chase them from their ancestral lands.

The governor spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television, where he also lamented that Buhari was not the first Fulani man to rule Nigeria, and asked why his administration was different in condoning the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen.

Ortom said, “Because of the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari, Miyetti Allah has been killing our people. My citizens have sent me to tell the President that they don’t want open grazing.

The Presidency is aware of the atrocities of the Miyetti Allah because I alerted them of the threats being issued by the Fulani herders but nothing was done.

President Buhari told me to tell my people to learn to live with their neighbours; neighbours with AK-47s who kill and pillage our people; I have alerted the Presidency several times, but Miyetti Allah is always in Abuja with the President, being protected with taxpayers’ money.”

Regarding the stance of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on open grazing, Ortom noted that his position is widely known amongst his colleagues.

“I have made my position known to the NGF but I am just one governor; the southern governors resolved over what should happen but they were castigated.

“The position is known with the support of most of the northern governors but most of them are afraid to confront the matter due to the fear of the EFCC. The presidency is frustrating the efforts of the NGF regarding the issue of open grazing.”

Ortom further lamented that he has been blocked from seeing the president by his handlers, to present the plight of his people to Buhari.

Politics

No more amnesty for bandits, others in Benue – Gov Ortom

March 14, 2021 No Comments

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said on Saturday there would be no more amnesty for criminals in the state.

Ortom, who stated this during the burial of ex-governor Gabriel Suswam’s elder brother, Terkura Suswam at Anyinn, Logo local government area of the state, decried the conspiracy of silence among the people of the state on the state’s security challenges.

This, according to him, makes criminalities to continue unabated.

The older Suswam was murdered by unknown gunmen at his country home in Anyiin about two weeks ago.

The governor condemned in strong terms the criminality in Sankera, Logo, Ukum, and Katsina-Ala local government areas of the state, saying his government would no longer negotiate with any criminal in the state.

He reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to go after those who have taken into criminality in the state, particularly in Sankera axis.

Ortom said: “From intelligence report, some members of the community are supporting these criminals which make it difficult for security men.

“I want to assure youths in the state not only in Sankera that we are going to go after these criminals and by the grace of God we will get them.

“There is no more amnesty, no more negotiation with them (criminals) except they come back like the prodigal son and plead for forgiveness.”

Politics

Despite PDP intervention, Gov Mohammed continues ‘fight’ with Ortom

February 25, 2021 No Comments

The war of words between Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, and his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom, will not go away in a hurry as Mohammed has challenged Ortom to prove that he (Mohammed) is a terrorist and is planning to kill him (Ortom).

Ortom had, in a press conference in Makurdi on Monday, accused Mohammed of being one of the “terrorists terrorising Nigeria” following Mohamned’s comments that Fulani herdsmen carry AK-47 rifles to protect themselves from attacks by cattle rustlers.

Ortom further alleged that he had received a death threat letter from the herdsmen and that Mohammed should be held responsible if he was murdered.

However, Mohammed has called on Ortom to prove his allegations that he is a terrorist and planning to eliminate him, challenging Ortom to substantiate his claims that he was in cahoots with anybody to kill him.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which the two governors belong had recently made a statement that it had intervened in the war of words between both men and had called on them to stop the attacks.

However, Gov Mohammed in a statement on Wednesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, said though he had restrained himself from joining issues with Ortom, “it would be irresponsible of him to ignore the two unfortunate claims.

The statement reads:

“In our resolve to deescalate the tension that has gripped the country over the sacking of Fulani herdsmen from Ondo State, we had resolved not to join issues with any other person over the position of His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, on the issue.

However, while standing on that resolve, it will be irresponsible of us to ignore two unfortunate claims made by the Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, at a press conference last Monday.

“During the conference, Governor Ortom alleged, among other things, that:

“Governor Bala Mohammed is a terrorist, sponsoring those he described as Fulani terrorist herdsmen.

“And he, Governor Ortom, had received a letter from Fulani herdsmen to the effect that they were going to kill him (Governor Ortom) and that Governor Bala Mohammed should be held responsible if he (Governor Ortom) dies

We are therefore shocked that Governor Ortom could, in good conscience, address a fellow Governor whom he had described as a brother, as a terrorist and who should, to wit, be placed under watch should anything untoward happen to him (Ortom).

“We want to state that Governor Ortom has carried the unfortunate theatrics, for which he is well known, to a very precipitous level of brinkmanship.

“As a journalist and democrat, Governor Bala Mohammed, concedes to Governor Ortom the right to reply.

However, through his unfounded and grave allegations, the Benue State Governor has over-personalised the matter, thereby reducing the debate to a level of toxicity that is neither healthy for the country nor helpful to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

“One of the main attractions of democracy is the freedom of speech which we relish very much in this country.

“That is why anybody can rise and make any allegation as they choose. However, as the legal dictum goes, he who alleges must prove.

“So, if Governor Ortom is not playing to the gallery, we challenge him to substantiate his claim that Governor Bala Mohammed is in cahoots with anybody to kill the Benue State Governor.”