Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged Nigerians to summon President Muhammadu Buhari before he destroys the country.
Ortom stated this during a Channels TV interview on Tuesday, claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari’s purpose on open grazing is to “Fulanize” Nigeria.
Governor Ortom and President Buhari recently had a spat over cattle ranching policies, with Ortom insisting that open grazing be abolished across the country, particularly in Benue State.
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The president reacted angrily to Ortom’s comments on Tuesday, accusing him of promoting ethnic violence and blaming him for the increase in insecurity.
Garba Shehu, Buhari’s spokesman, made the accusation in a statement released by the government on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, predicted the presidency’s “unguarded words” might one day throw the country into even more disarray.
“Governor Ortom begs the noble people of this country to call the Presidency to order before it destroys Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.
“If nothing is done quickly to stop the impending calamity, armed herders, bandits, and other terrorists will take over Aso Rock Villa one day, and those currently occupying the Villa will happily surrender and escape the nation.
Herdsmen and other terrorists are killing defenseless Nigerians on a daily basis in various regions of the country. Despite the fact that the number of internally displaced persons has climbed to millions, the Presidency wants everyone to remain silent as the country burns.
“Governor Samuel Ortom is not going to remain silent! Let it be known that when the Presidency was systematically destroying Nigeria, someone spoke out against it.
“The Governor believes in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “If peace means tolerating second-class citizenship, I’m not interested.” I don’t want peace if it means keeping my tongue quiet in the face of injustice and wickedness. I don’t want peace if it means becoming complacently accustomed to a depressing status quo. I don’t want peace if it means being economically exploited, politically dominated, humiliated, and segregated.”