By Amos Aar
BENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom and the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, have taken turns to engage each other in what can be best described as a war of words.
Governor Ortom was reported to have said in an exclusive interview with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, on Monday that the President was shielding Fulani herders, his brothers, to perpetuate the killing of innocent Nigerians.
The ICIR quoted Ortom as saying, “the challenge we face is the Federal Government’s action and inaction, which clearly shows us whether they are complacent, complicit, or want to turn a blind eye to this. Because I can’t see how these men can come and kill people and take over the land, and the Federal Government will defend them”.
But the Presidential Spokesman, Shehu Garba on Wednesday reportedly took on Ortom when he said the Governor’s claims were untrue and aimed at dividing the nation, describing it as a dog whistle politics.
“Fortunately, the cheap, dog whistle politics behind Ortom’s falsehood are plain for all to see. He is not the first opportunistic politician who has attempted to sow discord amongst his country’s people in the run-up to an election; sadly, he will not be the last,” ICIR quoted Shehu to have said.
The Cable reported on Thursday that Garba Shehu also accused Ortom of lying in the interview with The ICIR that “a high-ranking security personnel had informed him personally that President Buhari had ordered security forces not to move against the Fulani herdsmen responsible for recent violence”.
Shehu therefore challenged Ortom to mention the high-ranking military personnel that gave him the information or “shut up”.
But in his response to Garba Shehu on Thursday through his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, Gover Ortom tasked the presidential spokesperson to address the issues he raised rather than attack his personality as he allegedly does always.
“Each time I speak about the dreadful manner the Muhammadu Buhari administration has handled the security situation in the country, his media aides and hangers on come out attacking my personality instead of addressing the issues I raised.”
“If the Presidency assumes that I am wrong about my statements regarding the failure of the present government to tackle insecurity, I urge them to hold a referendum to get the feelings of Nigerians towards their ineptitude, complicity and clear lack of commitment and sincerity in protecting the people.
“It is sad and unfortunate that the likes of Garba Shehu have zero sympathy for the families of those being killed daily by Fulani terrorists. As long as their meal ticket is secured, they tell Mr President to go to bed, that all is well with the country”.
He added that “was it a false alarm from me that led to the terrorists’ attack on the convoy of President Buhari in his home state Katsina? Or was it a movie acting when terrorists broke into Kuje Correctional Centre right in the heart of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and released their colleagues? It is unfortunate that till date, no officer has been arrested or questioned for the lapses and clear cases of complicity by the security operatives attached to the Kuje facility. There are reports of over six jail breaks in the last seven years under the Buhari administration. If that is not a crying shame of failure on the part of the Presidency, we wonder what else qualifies as failure.
“Everyone is aware how the Buhari administration descends heavily and brutally on other groups like Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or Sunday Igboho who have been declared as terrorists with their members arrested and incarcerated but the same government treats Fulani terrorists with kid gloves,” the Governor stated.
Ortom also during the interview with ICIR claimed that he has not failed on his part as a Governor having performed satisfactorily in all spheres.
“I am not lacking in any area of my responsibility. Despite all the challenges, we have been able to provide basic infrastructure, go round despite all the challenges I have, we have been able to provide basic infrastructure, go round Makurdi. You will see the road, the urban renewal we have done the road construction we have taken key responsibility. Go to the teaching hospitals to see the work we are doing, go to lands and survey you will see what we are doing, go to Ministry of Housing, you will see what we are doing.
“We have provided roads in Zone A, Zone B and Zone C. We have provided clinics, and everything is functional. We have been able to establish primary health care, some of the states, up till today have not been able to do that, and it is functional. We have been able to provide facilities that serve the people. We are not lacking in any area in sports.”
Since the tug of war started on Monday, Benue people in their usual politicization of issues have been having mixed reactions based on party affiliations between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Elder Godwin Akor, a veteran journalist who presumably took side with the APC wrote on Facebook: “he (Ortom) is leaving office empty handed, nothing for Benue people because of insults against Buhari. No wisdom”.
Moses Edugbeke who seemed to be neutral in his analysis wrote on Facebook, “in d true sense of it, Buhari has failed Nigerians woefully even though it’s not an excuse for Ortom whom many are regrettably bearing up with as a governor”
Apine Teryila, an APC stalwart wrote, “his (Ortom) battered image of non-payment of pensions and salaries is there”.
Olikita Ekani, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ortom on Media wrote, “to be sincere, Gov Ortom has spoken the minds of most Nigerians.
“I have never heard or seen pictures of armed herdsmen being displayed on the media for the ceaseless killing of Benue people”.
