Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of tacitly supporting killer herdsmen who have unleased terror on Nigerians.
Ortom spoke through Mr Terver Akase, his Chief Press Secretary on Friday in a statement in response to a statement by the Presidency lamenting the governor’s relentless criticism of the Nigerian leader over the current state of security in the country.
Buhari on Thursday expressed disappointment and sadness at repeated attacks on him and his administration by Ortom.
He said that the “lives of fellow citizens should not be desecrated by deploying them in political diatribe, which unfortunately appeared to be the intent of the string of emotional attacks and blame” by the Benue governor.
The President spoke through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
Ortom, whose state has suffered a record loss of citizens and property to the killer herdsmen had accused Buhari of having no interest in protecting Nigerians following recent killings in his state, particularly the attack on an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, which was carried out by persons believed to be herders.
His spokesman argued that Shehu’s failure to condemn the armed herdsmen militia responsible for the killings in Benue state was proof of complicity and tacit support for the killer herders.
Akase said in a statement that, “we read the statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in which he said President Muhammadu Buhari had expressed “his disappointment and sadness to hear Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State make a litany of accusations against his person and his government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state.
“Shehu was referring to Governor Ortom’s clarion call on the President to act decisively and in an unbiased manner to end the spate of killings by Fulani herdsmen in Benue and other parts of the country
“We are convinced that Mr. President was not aware that his aide Shehu made such a statement on his behalf.
“It is clear that the media aide didn’t speak for the President in the said statement. President Buhari wouldn’t have given approval for such a reckless and insensitive press release.”
He wondered “what is wrong with Governor Ortom’s call on the President to address the nation, convene a national security summit and declare a state of emergency on security, following the spate of killings taking place in Benue and the remaining states of the federation?
“Governor Ortom is not the only one who is worried by the worsening security situation in the country and has called on the President to rise to his responsibilities by declaring a state of emergency on security and convening a summit to address the numerous security challenges bedeviling the nation.
“Many other Nigerians of good conscience have at different times made similar calls. What the Governor therefore deserves is commendation and not condemnation.
“If Garba Shehu claims that the President is disappointed in the Benue State Governor for speaking against the sustained attacks on his people, we wonder how he feels about the killings in North East, North West, South East, South West, and other parts of the North Central. Are those killings occurring as a result of the comments of Governors of the affected states?
“It is shocking that Shehu would make a statement regarding an attack evidently carried out by Fulani herdsmen and there won’t be a single sentence of reproach directed at the violent Fulani herders. Such a deliberate omission smacks of complicity and tacit support for the killer herders.
“Shehu is aware that Governor Ortom has on several occasions raised alarm against activities of the rampaging herdsmen whose sole aim is to take over the ancestral lands of Benue people and other Nigerians.
“The Governor has written letters to the Federal Government and made other spirited efforts to have the government at the centre take preventive measures against further attacks on Benue communities. The Federal Government has repeatedly ignored such patriotic calls, insisting rather that cattle routes of the 1950s be re-opened to grant easy passage to the pastoralists and their animals.”
He declared that “the posture of the Federal Government has made many Nigerians conclude that it is complicit and its inaction has emboldened the armed herdsmen to cause greater havoc across the country.
“The President is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The job of a Governor is to support security agencies to perform their duties, and this, Governor Ortom has done efficiently to the admiration of many Nigerians.
“When President Buhari gave a shoot on sight order to security agencies against persons bearing AK47, Governor Ortom was one of the first to support the presidential directive.
“The Minister of Defence came out a few weeks later to counter the President’s order and we expected a reaction from the Presidency but till this minute, no such reaction has been heard.
“What Garba Shehu ought to know is that Governor Ortom has no personal grudge against the President. The Governor is only being patriotic by calling for justice, equity, fairness and above all the rule of law. He expects the President to be the leader of every Nigerian and treat all as his people,” he added.
Shehu had said in his statement that:
“The President states that the rising levels of incidents, especially the killings and violence in various parts of the country call for further collaboration with security agencies.
“He also states his disappointment and sadness to hear Governor Ortom make a litany of accusations against his person and his government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state.
“No responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of military men and innocent citizens taking refuge in an IDP camp.
“President Buhari is deeply pained by the terrible acts of violence happening not only in Benue State but also in other parts of the country and expects that the law enforcement agencies will go to every possible extent to catch the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice.
“The President continuously stresses that the strength of our country lies in our diversity in faith, culture, and traditions and attempts to sharpen the divide between northern and southern Nigeria, between Muslims and Christians, and between communities that have coexisted for centuries should be frowned upon and resisted.
“As Nigerians, we accuse colonial rulers of the policy of divide and rule. Today, it is our own leaders who put region against region, religion against religion, ethnic group against ethnic group, and community against community.
“The future of Benue State and indeed that of the entire country lies in the harmony and the respect for the law, order, and the constitution. It is the only way to achieve progress and development.
“While the President will continue to keep security, police and the armed forces on their toes to be on top of their act in troubled parts of the country, the situation in the states will greatly be helped by everyone working together because that is the foundation on which progress and prosperity can be achieved.
“Benue under the Ortom administration ought to cooperate with the Federal Government in the implementation of a number of national strategic programmes in addressing underlying issues militating against peace, progress, and development.
“This can still get done when the interest of the people is placed above all other interests. A government voted into office by the people, should treat the people.
