State governors elected on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party warned that the attack on their Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, is an invitation to anarchy in the country.
The governors issued the warning in a statement titled ‘Attempt on governor Ortom, an invitation to anarchy: Enough is enough’ on Sunday.
The statement was signed on behalf of the governors by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who doubles as the Chairman, PDP Governors Forum.
Ortom ran for about 1.5km on Saturday to escape from a gunfire attack on him by armed herdsmen as he went to his farm, accompanied by his security details.
A visibly shaken Ortom told media after the attack that attackers numbered about 15 and blamed the attempt on his life on herdsmen who had vowed to eliminate him because of his opposition to open grazing in the state.
On their part, the Northern Governors Forum also on Sunday condemned the attack on Ortom and asked the security agencies in the country to fish out those responsible for it.
The PDP governors warned serving ministers against supporting activities that could lead to anarchy or instability in the country.
“The PDP-Governors Forum has received with shock the assassination attempt on the Governor of Benue State, H.E. Dr Samuel Ortom.
“We wish therefore to warn that any attempt to harm any Nigerian will be viewed by the Forum as an attempt on all of us,” the governors said.
“We believe strongly that any dispute or perceived dispute should be and must be resolved amicably without resort to violence. Nigeria is not a Babana Republic, even though certain retrogressive elements and centrifugal forces are trying to consign Nigeria into a failed state.
“It remains the primary responsibility of government, especially the Federal government, who have a monopoly of the coercive forces of state, to secure the lives and livelihoods of our people, however low or high. Every Nigerian deserves equal protection of the laws.
“Every citizen is entitled to freedom of speech and free exercise of all rights guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, subject only to the law.
“Nigeria is still a democracy and a nation of laws and not men.
“Nobody, or group however highly placed should take the laws into their hands, even though some highly placed Federal government ministers seem to have surrendered to the nefarious activities of miscreants and mischief-makers, bent on destabilising the nation. Self-help is an invitation to anarchy and must be nipped in the bud.
“The PDP GOVERNORS are solidly united and are behind His Excellency, Governor Dr. Samuel Ortom and will do the utmost to defend the rights and prerogatives of the Benue people who elected him.
“We expect the security agencies and other authorities of the state to investigate this matter swiftly and thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice. Enough is clearly enough.”
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, pointed out that the attack on Ortom must be fully investigated.
Lalong, in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Macham in Jos, demanded that the security agencies should identify those behind the attack and their sponsors
He commended security details attached to the governor for repelling the attack and securing Ortom and members of his entourage.
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