Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state Monday asked the Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, to apologise to Nigerians for supporting herdsmen who are attacking and killing Nigerians.
Ortom also said based on Governor Bala’s constant favourable comments, he was beginning to think he may have a hand in sponsoring the notorious herdsmen who are terrorising Nigerians.
Ortom addressed journalists at the Government House, Makurdi, Monday and noted that as governor of a state who has taken oath of office to protect the constitution and territorial integrity of the country, it was wrong of him to speak in favour of herdsmen who are killing Nigerians by encouraging them to carry AK47.
Ortom said it was senseless for a governor like Bala to have said that herdsmen were global people and the right to live anywhere.
“You can imagine the governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, who has taken oath of office to protect the constitution, saying foreign herdsmen are global people and should live anywhere and carry AK 47. This is the same man that accused me of inciting hatred against herdsmen.
“I will not want to join issues with the Bauchi state governor, but as a Nigerian and as a stakeholder, I will not keep quiet when someone makes a statement that compromises the security of this country and my people.
“I am beginning to think that the Bauchi governor is part of the terrorists group or sponsoring the foreign herdsmen terrorising Nigerians.
“Nobody is permitted to carry even a dane gun, if it is not licenced talk less of AK47. I also want the governor to go back and read the Land Use Act. Even the federal government cannot just come to any place and collect land unless granted access by the state government.
“Bala should emulate the governor of Kano and Kaduna states and even the Sultan of Sokoto who are constantly speaking against the killer herdsmen.
“I think my brother, the governor of Bauchi state should come out and apologise to Nigerians, particularly those of us who have been affected by atrocities of these herdsmen on our people.
“But if he continues, we will be forced to believe that he is part of the terrorists or one of those sponsoring it.
“We are not against Fulani living in Benue but against terrorists Fulani groups.
“Once you refuse to abide by the state law, irrespective of your tribe we will come after you,” he added.
On the comment by some people that he was attacking President Muhammadu Buhari, Ortom said as a stakeholder, it is his responsibility to speak out when he discovered something was wrong.
Ortom said as a Christian, he has been taught to respect constituted authorities but also to speak the truth.
He said he was not bothered about blackmail from those who receive tips or are looking for positions or will not succumb to intimidations by those in highly placed positions simply because he is speaking against wrongs.
