The governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom has said that his people will vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election if the president’s interest is in tandem with the interest of the people of Benue.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Makurdi to mark the third anniversary of his administration, the governor said politics is all interests and if the people find a common ground with the Buhari administration’s policies, they would vote massively for him.
“Buhari will definitely come here for campaigns; I cannot preempt what he will say or what Benue people will say.
“But as you know in politics, there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends but permanent interest.
“If President Buhari’s interest is in tandem with the interest of the people of Benue and he asks them for their vote, they will vote him likewise my own, if my interest is also in tandem with the wishes of the people they will vote for me”.
“But one thing I want you to know is that the herdsmen/farmers clashes predate this government, so it will be a fallacy to conclude that herdsmen killings in the state is linked to President Buhari.
“That the herdsmen are killing Benue people does not mean it is Buhari who is responsible. There are still reasonable herdsmen who still live here in peace with their neighbours.
Ortom said the “real enemy” of the people is the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
“They vowed to resist the law and they went ahead to do it. They are a violent group, we know them and we are holding them responsible.”
“There are some who support the anti open grazing law but the real enemy is Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, they are the ones we hold responsible because they addressed the media and stood up against our anti open grazing law.
“They vowed to resist the law and they went ahead to do it. They are a violent group, we know them and we are holding them responsible and have also gone a step further to institute a criminal case against them in the court,” he said.
The governor denied the rumour that he was planning to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for another political party.
He said those who spread such information are those who are out to blackmail him and push him away from the party.
“I am in APC; let it be clear to the doubting Thomases that I am still in APC. I could have issues but that does not deny me of been a member of the party”.
“Those who initiated that rumour are people who are out to blackmail me and to push me away. I am not going anywhere I will remain here, they should wait for their time but for me, I am still here and if there is any course for me to defect, I will make it public,” he said.
