1 week ago
23
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom has accused his predecessor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, of playing politics with insecurity in the state.
Ortom’s statement was a reaction to a video clip in which Governor Hyacinth Alia was seen addressing a congregation at NKST Church Ikpayongo in Gwer East Local Government Area last Sunday, where he claimed that since he assumed office, armed herders have stopped attacking and killing people in the state.
A statement signed by the Media Aide to the former Governor, Terver Akase said “The Governor also leveled several lies against his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom whom he accused of feigning the 2021 assassination attempt on his life.
“Governor Alia stated that unlike during the previous administration when there were daily reports of mass killings by herdsmen, his tenure has witnessed absolute peace across the state, as attacks have ended and the people now go about their normal activities.”
Ortom said what he finds sad and unfortunate was that Governor Alia spoke before a church congregation in Gwer East, one of the local government areas which have suffered some of the worst herdsmen attacks under his watch with many people killed, others injured and property worth billions destroyed.
He said “The people of Gwer who were in that church must have felt grossly dismayed on hearing such words coming from a man who is their governor.”
Ortom noted that there have been uncountable mass burials during Alia’s administration in many parts of the state as a result of attacks by herdsmen in Zone A, Zone B and Zone C, particularly in Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Gwer East, Gwer West, Guma, Makurdi, Agatu, Otukpo among others.
Ortom who noted that the present government only attempts to conceal the truth about the killings and mass burials, recalled that despite the threats to his life, the intimidation and outright deprivation by the then Federal Government, he remained unmoved and dogged in his fight against insecurity and stance against open grazing which eventually paid off as many Nigerians began to make sense of his advocacy against open grazing of animals and the introduction of ranches.
Ortom expressed joy that he passionately defended his people against external aggression, never blamed or accused them of being the aggressors and cattle rustlers.
The statement read, “Governor Ortom had no need lying on television cameras that his people were living in peace when his people were targets of unprovoked attacks. Governor Ortom had no need to say that there was relative peace simply to please enemies of Benue people.
“Chief Ortom was a Governor who made it clear that he was elected to stand for the living, not the dead, and he confronted oppression head-on. He refused to submit to injustice and insisted that his people deserved dignity, equity, justice, and fairness as citizens of Nigeria. Governor Ortom chose to defend his people instead of defending the marauding killers.”
He urged Governor Alia to apologize to the people of Benue State for his insensitivity in claiming there are no more herders’ attacks in the state, especially when many have been traumatized after burying their loved ones.
He also advised the Governor to calm down and focus on fulfilling his promises to Benue people saying “Being a State Governor is a transitory position. Tomorrow, he will also become a former Governor. Ortom played his part and left the stage nearly two years ago. Governor Alia is now in the saddle, so he should take advantage of what he thinks his predecessor did not do to provide such a service for the people.”
English (US) ·