The governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom and elders of the state under the auspices of ‘MINDA leaders of thoughts’ have withdrawn their support for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Atiku Abubakar
Recall that Ortom is one of G-5 PDP governors demanding for the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
As such, they have dissociated themselves from the PDP presidential campaign council.
The others are Messrs Nyesom Wike – arrowhead (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Ortom, while distancing himself from the PDP presidential campaign council, accused Atiku of denigrating him as governor and working against the interest of the people of Benue.
The governor was angered by a comment made by Atiku at a recent political rally in Kaduna state he (governor) was accused of profiling the Fulani people living in Benue as bandits and terrorists.
“I had a big quarrel with Governor Ortom on his accusation of Fulani people. I am a Fulani man, why should you categorise all Fulani; we have to improve ways and manner we look after our livestock. I am angry with Samuel Ortom for profiling Fulani as bandits and terrorists,” Atiku said had said.
Responding yesterday (Tuesday), Ortom said he only accuses migrant Fulanis from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya and Chad as perpetrators of attacks in Benue.
He said Atiku, who is seeking to be elected president, should not make wrong assumptions about a sitting governor.
Ortom said he has written to Atiku to request an apology for the negative profiling.
“I have never profiled any Fulani; I have always qualified anytime I call Fulani — these are Fulani from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya, Chad who have come together to say they will take over our country to become their own and that is why they have displaced our people. And who on earth would say I should not say that? I am a governor of Benue state,” Ortom said.
He added: “More than two million people have been displaced so why should I not talk about those enemies killing my people? I remain committed.
“I have sent a message to our presidential candidate telling him that he was unfair to me when he made those remarks in Kaduna. And I told him I needed an unreserved apology from him. And the following morning he chatted back and accepted what was said, he is not arguing it, but all the same, he apologised.
“It was not correct for a presidential candidate who is seeking to rule the people to say that kind of thing.
“It was very wrong. And it would appear that he doesn’t even reference me and consider me to be the governor of my state.
“I am not in his campaign team. The people they appointed there, no consent from me. So I’ll remain on my own. But I’m waiting. When the election comes, we shall vote the election according to the election.”
Reacting to Ortom’s comment on Channels Television’s Politics Today, a member of the PDP presidential campaign team, Mr. Dele Momodu, faulted him.
“To label him an agent of Miyetti-Allah, that’s wrong. He can say anything about Atiku Abubakar, but to call him an agent of Miyetti Allah, I disagree vehemently with that.
“If you don’t want to support a man . . . it’s very easy to give a dog a bad name, in order to hang it. But it is wrong to disparage a man who has served his country meritoriously, who has done everything he could for every part of his country . . . But because you are playing politics, because you disagree with him, then, you use such weighty words against him. Well, there’s always another time.
“I am telling you that even Governor Wike, who is supposed to be the angriest among them, because he participated in our primaries, he has not used such words against Atiku Abubakar,” Momodu said.
