•••He Says Committed Sacrilige Against Tiv Nation,
•••Must Apologize or Forget Benue – Ortom
Attah Ede Makurdi
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom had said that Fulani cannot make the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential flagbearer Atiku Abubakar President.
An angry Ortom urged Atiku to retract his comments against him and Benue people over the killings in Gbeji, Ukum local government area by suspected herdsmen.
The Governor was further enraged by alleged lies against him by Atiku that he profiled Fulani herdsmen and that Benue people steal cows from his (Ortom’s) farm.
Governor Ortom spoke on Wednesday in Government House when Youths from Jemgbagh comprising Gboko, Buruku and Tarka local government areas held a solidarity visit to him.
“I vehemently condemn the statement against me by Atiku. When it got to me, I contested to him through a WhatsApp message, he apologized but decline to make a public apology.
“You cannot underdress an elder like me in public and come back to dress me in the room. Let it be on record that at no point did I tell him that Benue people were stealing my cows. He lied against me and I take exception to this and demand an apology. It is unbecoming for a Presidential candidate to tell lies
“I never profiled Fulanis and did not say all of them are bad. They are my friends, they can even go into my bedroom. I have never sent any Fulani man away. But i am against the Fulani terrorist coming from Niger, Chad, Senegal,Mali. He must do a retraction. If he does not, on the day of election we will vote according to the election.
“We cannot vote a president who will continue the carnage against our people. He wants to use me a scape goat. Atiku is unfair to the people. You think Fulani will make you President, you lie.
“You have committed sacrilege against Benue people. I want to assure all ethnic groups and even foreigners of their safety in the land. I want to assure Benue people that under my watch such people will be apprehended.
“Our baby is PDP you do not throw away the baby and the bath water. Benue State is PDP and PDP is Benue”,Ortom said.
