Makurdi
A Tiv monarch, Tor Sankera 1, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to look outside his inner circle to get the real truth of the security situation in Benue and other states with festering security challenges.
King Shuluwa, in an open letter he personally signed and addressed toBuhari, stated that there was so much grieving and tears in Benue state under the president’s watch, saying the people could only positively contribute to his policies for a better Nigeria when they are alive.
His words; “Your Excellency, your utterance, silence, actions and inactions seem to corroborate a special preconceived mindset, understanding, default, reflex and impulse that is characteristic of an ethnic defender/champion rather than a statesman/chief security officer of a nation made up of many nationalities.
“Even as you yourself stated that, you take your time to think over issues in order to get a clear conscience before acting, I urge you to consider that taking actions over issues when the victims become corpses does not help the living.
“There’s too much grieving (tears) in Benue state under your watch sir. People can only positively contribute to your good ideas, policies for a better Nigeria when they are alive and healthy.”
He said it was also possible that the President was being misled by some of his security aides on the Benue situation.
He said, “in the First Republic, Alhaji Ibrahim Imam, a Kanuri man from Borno Province, won election in the then Benue Province to represent Jemgbah Constituency in the Northern House of Assembly.
“In the general election, Alhaji Imam defeated a Tiv man, Mr Chia Surma, who contested against him.
“During the Second Republic, Governor Aper Aku influenced the choice of Alhaji Danladi Umaru as the Chairman of NPN in Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue state.
“In the same vein, Alhaji Usman Abdallah was elected under NPN to represent Nyamatsor Constituency of then Gboko Local Government in the Benue State House of Assembly.”
