Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has criticised the Presidency over the incessant attacks by herdsmen and terrorists in the country.
Ortom made this call on Thursday, September 1, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur.
The Governor said;
I speak the minds of most Nigerians on specific areas of incompetence…by the Federal Government in the heinous crimes committed against citizens by armed Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists.
Ortom, a steadfast supporter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was responding to the president’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, who accused the governor of spreading untrue rumours that the president had instructed security personnel not to intervene against violent herders.
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He continued;
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 sympathies 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.
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 to 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 jailbreaks 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 a 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.
