Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has told former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the people of Benue are unhappy with him.
InsightnaijaTV reports that the governor said this while hosting the former Vice President in Makurdi, Benue’s capital.
He claimed that despite the state honoring Atiku with the title of Zege Mule Tiv, one of the highest Chieftaincy titles in Tiv territory, the former Vice President abandoned the Tiv people when they were attacked by Fulani herdsmen.
The people of Benue, he said, expected Atiku to stand with them by visiting them or assisting with relief efforts after attacks.
Insinuations that the Benue people have issues with the Fulanis or any other ethnic group in the country were denied by Ortom.
He said, ”I want everyone to understand that the challenge we have here today in Benue state is not about the Tiv and the Fulanis.
“In the past, former President Alhaji Shehu Shagari was a Fulani, and in Benue state alone we had three Ministers and several other appointments. We also related very well, we had no issues.
“When President Yar’Adua came, we saw a visionary leader within the little time we had with him, we saw that he meant well. He ensured that there was equity, fairness and justice. He ensured that Benue got the best.
“We will not forget when you a Fulani man were the Vice President, you gave support to our people and our leaders.
“But when our state came under siege and we did not see you, we were not happy, I must tell you this.
“This was a time we needed a shelter over us. If you go to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps you will discover that they are being bitten by the sun because of lack of shelter. But we thank you for coming today because it is said that it is better late than never.
“I still want to repeat that we are being terrorized and harassed by Fulani terrorists who are not from this country. I am aware and I know from my research that the Fulani Nationalist Movement, FUNAM, and Miyetti Allah Kautal have claimed responsibilities for the attacks we suffered and I have persistently asked the President to disband them because they are dangerous.
“Even when our people were killed on New Year’s Day of 2018 they came out and took responsibility. The other one in MACBAN, those ones are soft and friendly; they adopted our ranching law but asked for more time.
“I must state that our ranching law is not targeted at Fulani or any ethic group group whatsoever, it is a win win for all. It sanctions those into open grazing and also sanctions those who rustle cattle.
“As I talk to you there people who rustle cattle including, Tiv, Idoma, Igede and even some of my kinsmen who I ordered to be arrested when they went to rustle sheep and cattle. They are all in detention as we speak. So we are not targeting any ethnic group. We all know that globally open grazing is not accepted, but ranching is the accepted practice.”
Atiku responded by explaining that he was unable to visit the state because he was studying abroad.
While presenting N50 million to IDPs in the state, the former Vice President expressed his displeasure with the way the Fulani race as a whole was portrayed as violent during the conflict.
I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!
I am really loving the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera. Do you have any advice to help fix this issue?
of course like your web-site however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will certainly come back again.
Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging glance easy. The entire glance of your web site is fantastic, let alonesmartly as the content!