•The Inside Story
One of the governors who was stunned in the last general election, was governor Samuel Ortom of Benue. He lost his senatorial and his preferred successor also lost.
Remember that, Governor Samuel Ortom remains most outspoken governor on the issue of herder-farmer conflict. He criticised the present government of being biased on the issue, knowing fully well, these set of herders are Fulanis and majority of them live in the state.
He’s one person who has taken on President Buhari several times. A few months back, Samuel Ortom, expressed regrets over the continued silence of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over killings in Benue State by herders.
Ortom insisted that the Federal Government was protecting killer herders who have continued to perpetrate unprovoked killings in Benue State.
He said further, “This has been my pain since 2015. I have cried out that the federal government is complicit concerning the issues of terrorism.
One thing that pains me is that these people have never hidden their intentions, and they are known. I have written to DSS, I have written to the Police, and yet they are adamant. It is not possible that the killers are not known; they are known,” Ortom insisted.
The increasing clashes between farmers in agrarian communities and herders who are mostly from the Fulani tribe put a wedge between the duo, with Ortom often accusing the president of failing to act.
Shortly after Samuel Ortom lost senatorial bid the Fulani communities around the country were elated that the people have spoken. The Fulani nation have spoken against the public condemnation of Fulani whenever there’s attack in Benue. One of them is Adamu Garba who is one of the outspoken lawyers and youth leaders for the Fulani people.
He also fought hard with Atiku Abubakar for not supporting enough over the herder-farmer clash.
Recently, he lamented the killing of 18 persons in his council, where a young man in his 20s had his eyes removed to send a message to him.
He said, “To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.
“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet.
“My tenure ends in May and you can do whatever you want if you think you have the powers. I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night. If I die at 62, many of my mates have gone long time ago and If I die today, I’m a fulfilled person but let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.”
“I will never support a Fulani man to become President. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him,” Ortom said. These are the things that aggravated the Fulani’s anger and thereby voted against him. They made sure they succeed in also voting out his successor.
Things started getting out of hand when Ortom left the APC to return to the PDP in 2018, a move he said was inspired by his search for platforms “that offer more accommodation and support for their policies, especially the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 (which some believe has worsened the farmers-herders conflict even though it was meant to resolve it).”
At the PDP, Ortom became more outspoken in his criticisms against a president he thinks has failed in his mandate. And although the presidency did not respond to The Africa Report’s enquiries for comments, it has often engaged the governor on issues raised.
“Some of us have been blocked from seeing Mr. President,” he says. “If you give me the opportunity, I would have seen and told him this, but they have blocked me; that I say the truth, and so I should not see him again.
Presently, alot of fulanis have migrated and settled in the state and they are gradually influencing the polity of the state”.
Let’s quickly tell you more on Benue. Benue State is one of the North Central States in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers States to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East.
The state is populated by several ethnic groups: Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Abakpa, Jukun, Hausa, Igbo, Akweya and Nyifon. The Tiv are occupying 14 local government areas with the Etulo and Jukun, with the Idoma, Igede, Igbo, Akweya and Nyifon occupying nine.
Most of the Tiv people are farmers while the inhabitants of the river areas engage in fishing as their primary or important secondary occupation. The people of the state are famous for their cheerful and hospitable disposition as well as rich cultural heritage.
The Benue State Government accords high respect to traditional rulers in recognition of their role as custodians of culture and as agents of development. Also, their roles in enhancing peace and order at the grassroots level are also recognised. To enhance their contribution to the affairs of the state, government has established a three-tier traditional council system made up of Local Government Area Traditional Councils, Area Traditional Councils and the State Council of Chiefs with the Tor Tiv (Tiv King) as Chairman.
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