What’s Happening In Nigeria Can Lead To Break-up, Says Ortom

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has raised an alarm that what was happening in Nigeria could lead to its break-up. He described the incapacity of President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in the activities of herdsmen on vulnerable groups as a bad omen.

Speaking in a press conference in Makurdi  and monitored in Abuja, after his recovery from COVID-19 on Wednesday, the governor noted that the refusal by President Buhari to stop attacks on citizens by Fulani herdsmen is an open recipe for disunity and eventual break-up.

According to the governor, “You are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you are not the President of Fulani. You are the President of everybody and I owe you a duty as a stakeholder in this nation to let you know that what is going on is wrong and this has the potential of dividing this country which will not be in the interest of anyone –some of us believe in the unity of this country.”

Ortom condemned moves by the police to arrest the Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, over his issuance of quit notice to herdsmen accused of abductions, rape, and destruction of farms, among others in Oyo state.

 “When I talk, I was being castigated, I was being vilified, nothing bad that was not said against me, I am this and that, but the reality is here and it is not just happening in Benue State today, it is happening in the entire country.

“Why is the Federal Government being silent about these Fulani herdsmen? When will Federal Government come out and criticise and arrest herdsmen carrying AK-47? When are they going to do that? Are we second (-class) citizens in this country? Why (is) the Fulani men superior to a Tiv man? I am not their slave, a Benue man is not slave to any Fulani man in this country.

“We stand for justice, equity and fairness. Whatever is happening to a Fulani man should also happen to a Tiv man. That was why I called the Federal Government to licence me and many others to have guns, to have AK-47 too. Because if I have my AK-47 and a Fulani man is coming there, he knows that I have and he has, then we can fight each other.

“But you can’t disarm me and arm a Fulani man. This is not right, the Federal Government is biased, it is unfair. The failure in security is caused by Federal Government.”

Calling on President Buhari to act fast before it is too late, Governor Ortom declared: “Mr President, in case you are listening to me, I want you to know that your people, Nigerians, you promised Nigerians that you will be fair to all. You said that you will be for everybody and for nobody, and now it will appear that you are for Fulani people because nothing is coming from you to give the people confidence that you are their President.

 “Mr President, if some people are deceiving you that all is well, it is not well with us in Benue State and what I can hear from other states, it is not well with Nigeria today, you must act fast before it is late.”