Bala Mohammed’s Defence Of Armed Herdsmen Shocking – Ortom

By Ella Makondo

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has described as shocking Governor Bala Mohammed’s defence of AK-47 wielding Fulani herdsmen.

A statement issued  on Friday by Governor  Ortom’s Chief Press secretary (CPS), Mr Terver Akase  said Ortom would  not join issues with the Bauchi State Governor.

He said he was rather shocked  that a colleague who took the oath of office  to protect and preserve the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has taken  the lead in violating provisions of the same Constitution.

Mohammed had defended herdsmen bearing arms saying “they have no option than to carry AK47 because the society and the government are not protecting them.”

But rejecting Mohammed’s claim, the statement said:

“One wonders the section of the constitution that  supports  herdsmen’s free movement around the country with sophisticated weapons,” even as the statement  recalled  the same Governor’s comment on a national television where he said  that a Fulani man is a global citizen and therefore does not need a visa to come to Nigeria, and that the forests belong to herdsmen.

“Governor Ortom wonders if his friend and colleague in Bauchi State knows a thing or two about the horrendous activities of herders in parts of the country to warrant the emotional defence and justification that he has repeatedly put forward in their favour.

“In reference to Governor Bala Mohammed’s comment that there are Benue people who are freely doing business in Bauchi and elsewhere, Governor Ortom states that Benue indigenes in Bauchi have been law abiding and do not carry arms to attack their hosts, noting that Fulani as well as many other Nigerians residing in Benue who respect laws of the land also live peacefully with their hosts.

“Governor Ortom says his administration has not driven away any law abiding Nigerian in Benue State.

” The Governor finds it unfortunate that those who are trusted with the people’s mandate and should ordinarily uphold truth and justice, have chosen to mislead the country. He stresses the need for leaders to be cautious and retrace their steps which are capable of leading the country to anarchy,” the statement concluded.

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