Journalism in the service of society

BENUE: Ortom calls Atiku’s statement inciting

THE State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday mentioned that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku may likely not be voted for in the State.

The governor revealed this while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, adding that he had no input in the selection of members of the presidential campaign team who were selected from the state.

He said, “I am not in his campaign team. All the people there are not with my consent. But I am waiting, when the election comes, we shall hold the election according to the election.”

Ortom speaking on the statement that the party’s presidential candidate was quoted to have said over the killing of 36 people at Gbeji last Wednesday, described the statement as inciting.

Atiku was quoted to have said, “When our people are well integrated into communities where they live, work, pay taxes and raise their children, they’d be obligated to reciprocate the love and acceptance.

“My deepest condolences to the families that may have lost a loved one and to the people and government of Benue State.”

But Ortom described the word ‘integration’ as a mark of disrespect for him and the state.

Also reacting to Atiku’s outburst at a recent interactive forum organised by Arewa Consultative Forum, in Kaduna that he was angry with Ortom for categorising Fulani people as bandits and terrorists, the governor said the statement indicated that Atiku was working with Miyeitti Allah, saying, “that is the same thing Miyetti Allah was saying about me. I never profiled Fulani. I only qualify each time I called Fulanis.

“These are Fulanis from Niger Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya from Chad who have come together and said they would take over our country and make their abode.”

Comments are closed.

Naija Times