The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday, called on the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to apologise to him and people of the state over his outburst against him and the people of the state.
The governor also told Atiku not to think that Fulanis alone could make him the president.
Ortom stated this when he addressed youths from Jemgbagh axis which comprises Gboko, Buruku and Tarka local government areas who protested in solidarity with him.
The former vice president drew the ire of the governor during the interactive forum organised by the Arewa Consultative Forum in Kaduna recently when he (Atiku) accused Ortom of profiling Fulanis.
Atiku had also in his condolence message said, “When our people are well integrated into communities where they live, work, pay taxes and raise their children, they’d be obligated to reciprocate the love and acceptance”
However, Ortom on Wednesday denied that he profiled Fulani herdsmen and claim that his people stole cows from his farm.
“I vehemently condemn the statement against me by Atiku. When it got to me, I chatted him through a WhatsApp message, he apologized but declined to make a public apology.
“You cannot undress an elder like me in public and come back to dress me in the room. Let it be on record that at no point did I tell him that Benue people were stealing my cows. He lied against me and I take exception to this and demand an apology. It is unbecoming of a presidential candidate to tell lies
I never profiled Fulanis and did not say all of them are bad. They are my friends, they can even go into my bedroom. I have never sent any Fulani man away.
But am against the Fulani terrorist coming from Niger, Chad, Senegal, Mali. He must do a retraction. If he does not, on the day of the election we will vote according to the election.
We cannot vote for a president who will continue the carnage against our people. He wants to use me as a scapegoat. Atiku is unfair to the people. You think Fulani will make you President, you lie. You have committed sacrilege against the Benue people.
I want to assure all ethnic groups and even foreigners of their safety in the land. I want to assure Benue people that under my watch such people will be apprehended.
Our baby is PDP you do not throw away the baby and the bath water. Benue State is PDP and PDP is Benue and I remain obedient servant,”, Ortom said.
