Bauchi governor, Bala Mohammed
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Again, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has been lambasted for calling Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir a terrorist.
The condemnation was made by the Arewa Youths for Peace and Development (AYPD) has lambasted while addressing a Press Conference in Bauchi on Tuesday demanding for immediate withdrawal of the statement.
Chairman of the group Alhaji Salihu Magaji Mohammed stated at Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi that every one in Nigeria knows Governor Bala Mohammed as a nationalist who always defend the interest of the masses and the oppressed no matter what.
He said that to call him a terrorist is unacceptable, erroneous and unfair saying that, “and we demand unreserved apology to Nigerians by Governor Ortom for fanning the embers of disunity in the country, his utterances and reckless statements and actions”.
Salisu Magaji also accused Governor Samuel Ortom for what he described as unguarded utterances to cover his alleged dastardly act of sponsoring thugs that maimed and killed many Fulani Herdsmen in Benue for hatred and envy without regarding the oath of office he swore to defend”.
He also said that, “Governor Ortom for his own selfish interest is moving in a wrong direction that he may not finish it well. When he called a respected Serving Governor a terrorist, it is simply a display of criminality in governance, thuggery in governance.,lack of respect to the office and status of the Governor lack of regard to the constitution of Nigeria.”
Salisu Magaji declared that, “He is creating unnecessary tension when there is no need for it. Today, Benue is very unsecure . Every day people are being killed, maimed and chased out of the state, people are being intimidated by the governor and his thugs. That violates the fundamental human rights of Nigerian citizen in the name of anti grazing laws.
“That is not the way to do it. A governor, suppose to have respect for human beings, to protect them and to provide essentials social services to his people, to treat all with respect not to do reckless statements or abuse a Governor and his office with the aim to tarnish his image and reputations, in order to hide under his lack of performance through false allegations to serve as a cover to him”, he stressed.
He further said that, “This is a clear indications that Samuel Ortom on this, is an enemy of Nigeria. Because he is fighting Justice, unity, peace and stability of the country”.
Salisu Magaji then called on the Benue State House of Assembly to commence impeachment process against Governor Ortom for violating the oath of office he swore to defend.
He however said that, “our country is in a desperate need of competent, transparent, detribalised and resourceful leader with democratic credentials to move the nation forward like Governor Bala Mohammed who always speaks the truth no matter how bitter it is in the best interest of the country.
He said that: “Bala’s doggedness and ability to fix the numerous challenges confronting the nation was seen in his outstanding and impeccable performance as the FCT Minister for six consecutive years, which is yet to be surpassed till date years after he left office, and a man of integrity with this track record will not support crime and criminality but he can advised and said the truth no matter how bitter it is.”
He maintained that leaders in the country should refrain from making utterances that has the capacity to heat up the polity, pointing out that no nation can progress in a state of
He added that, “we reiterated that Governor Ortom needs to apologise to the people of Bauchi State and Nigerians for tagging Governor Bala Mohammed as a terrorist because Bauchi people are not terrorists neither is the Governor. Such a statement should not come out from the mouth of a leader who happens to be a mouthpiece of the people who everybody looks forward to as a role model.
“Governor Mohammed has been working hard to foster peaceful coexistence in the country and not to disintegrate it. When he said that Fulani herders should defend themselves, it was not to create tension in the country, but to proffer solutions to the insecurity problems in the country” he said.
