Frederick Adebayo: What’s Governor Ortom’s offence

Impunity and injustice reign supreme in Nigeria, and there are numerous victims, a few of who’re focused for vilification as a result of they’re lovers of fact and justice. One of many victims of injustice on this nation is Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State. Ortom has been constantly however unjustifiably persecuted, victimized and subjected to all method of travails, simply due to his agency and uncompromising stand on the nation’s undesirable state of affairs which genuinely ought to trouble each patriotic Nigerian.

As a citizen who has intently adopted the Federal Authorities’s unjust antagonistic posture in the direction of the Benue State Governor, I really feel deeply involved to ask, what’s Governor Samuel Ortom’s offence? When has it grow to be against the law beneath our legal guidelines to talk and take compelling actions in defence of the folks one is governing?

Ortom is the voice of hundreds of thousands of unvoiced Nigerians who’re disillusioned with the established order. When he speaks or acts on points, why is the Federal Authorities usually fast to resort to viciously denigrating his particular person and workplace relatively than addressing the problems for the nice of all residents? Why does the Buhari authorities relish going after the messenger and never the message?

The latest assertion issued by Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu which left the core challenge Governor Ortom had raised and descended on his particular person with shameful vitriol was concerning the poorest response any authorities would ever give to its residents on a really delicate challenge like safety. The presidency couldn’t say in even one sentence if it had investigated Governor Ortom’s ‘allegation’ (that prime navy officers informed him they’ve been warned by no means to assault Fulani herders) and located it to be false.

Garba Shehu made scathing and uncouth remarks about Governor Ortom calling him a “liar” and “opportunistic” politician. Nigerians are involved that as an alternative of proving how incorrect the Governor was, the Presidency viciously attacked the character and workplace of Governor Ortom when in precise sense, it’s obtrusive that the Federal Authorities as much as this second, has not arrested or prosecuted anybody of the dreaded herdsmen, although Miyetti Allah have gone to the nationwide media brazenly justifying the killings of 1000’s of individuals, destruction of property price billions of Naira and displacement of hundreds of thousands of hapless folks in Benue state

If Ortom, as a serving Governor, can not freely ventilate his views on points bordering on our nationwide safety and social cohesion, who else will the Federal Authorities ever entertain on such points? Is that this how despotic and authoritarian the nation has grow to be? These basic questions are a supply of fear. As a involved Nigerian, once more I ask, what’s Ortom’s offence? Is it against the law to decide on to face with one’s folks within the face of brazen injustice, oppression and crass impunity? Since 2017, Governor Ortom has come beneath a heavy wave of sponsored blackmail and victimization from the Federal Authorities and its keen cohorts, one among which is the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the umbrella socio-cultural physique of the Fulani herdsmen.

I visited Benue State earlier than the 2019 elections and I spoke to the folks of the state and found that they genuinely and willingly determined to face solidly behind Governor Ortom in whom they noticed a person who had put his second time period bid on the road to defend them. That Ortom efficiently received his re-election within the face of opposing forces at dwelling and the notorious “federal would possibly” from Abuja was no shock to a few of us as a result of his folks had been massively behind him.

Since that point, false propaganda has been sponsored in opposition to the Governor. That is taking place as a result of he has upheld his perception that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Institution Regulation within the state is the reply now and in future in the direction of ending the genocide visited by terrorists herdsmen on harmless Benue folks. Nobody has been capable of problem him on this or proffer a superior different.

On Could 21, 2019, the Buhari Media Group (BMO), in a press release, alleged amongst others that “Governor Ortom overtly created rigidity in his state and created division among the many peace-loving folks of Benue state.” The group heaped unprintable insults on the Governor. As if that was not sufficient, on June 26, 2019, Governor Ortom got here beneath heavy blackmail and media assaults sponsored by the Presidency for rejecting Ruga settlements, cattle colonies and different plans to take over Benue folks’s ancestral lands and provides to herders. In what was relatively a pretend regret for his or her horrendous atrocities dedicated in opposition to Benue folks, the Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore on October 20, 2019 apologized to Governor Ortom over herdsmen assaults. Nationwide Secretary of the affiliation, Saleh Alhassan gave the apology at a marriage in Makurdi, the State capital.

An assassination try was made on Governor Ortom on March 20, 2021 whereas the Governor was on the way in which from his farm alongside Gboko-Makurdi street. It was most stunning that on March 21, 2021, a bunch often known as Fulani Nationality Motion (FUNAM) claimed accountability for the tried assassination of the Governor. The group mentioned it carried out the assault “to guard Fulani curiosity”. FUNAM vowed to maintain a detailed eye on the Governor until they obtain their goal. The assertion signed by Umar Amir Shehu learn in elements: “Our brave fighters carried out this historic assault to ship an important message to Ortom and his collaborators. Wherever you’re, as soon as you’re in opposition to Fulani long run curiosity, we will get you down. It is a clear warning. We hope those that take us as a right will get the indeniable message. Our intention is unequivocal: TO KILL HIM. That mission will someday be fulfilled and really quickly too.”

Additionally, on Could 16, 2021, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai attacked Governor Ortom, accusing him of blaming President Muhammadu Buhari over the insecurity within the nation. And on June 10, 2021 President Buhari, whereas that includes on Come up Information programme, took a swipe at Governor Ortom over the herdsmen disaster. The President insisted on reopening grazing reserves in Benue State and different elements of the nation.

Not achieved with their onslaught in opposition to Governor Ortom, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) on August 26, 2021, but once more descended on Ortom in a media assault that smacked of pure hatred and victimization. In a press release signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, BMO mentioned Governor Ortom’s response to the President’s transfer to revive over 300 grazing reserves in 25 states together with Benue wouldn’t deter the Buhari administration from executing the plan.

In what appeared as collaboration with insiders, the Minister of Particular Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, at a press convention in Abuja, on August 30, 2021 outrightly referred to as for a state of emergency to be declared in Benue State, in order to take away Governor Ortom from workplace. That determined transfer was paying homage to the sooner 2018 impeachment try the Federal Authorities used Akume and others to prosecute however failed woefully.

Decided to proceed looking for justice, Governor Ortom on January 24, 2022 raised alarm when he appeared on Come up tv, saying that he had been blocked from seeing President Buhari. The Governor complained concerning the poor safety state of affairs in his state and blamed it wholly on the Federal Authorities’s reluctance to struggle terrorists frontally. He additionally criticized the Federal Authorities for refusing to help the state to deal with the humanitarian disaster which has resulted within the steady keep of his folks within the Internally displaced individuals (IDP) camps. In a swift response, the Presidency, by way of the Senior Particular Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, attacked Governor Ortom over his feedback on tv, significantly the Governor’s assertion that Nigerians are regretting voting for President Buhari.

Not too long ago, Governor Ortom in real response to his folks by way of the State Home of Meeting, established the Benue State Group Volunteer Guards, BSCVG as a home-grown safety initiative to enrich the traditional safety businesses particularly on the grassroots in curbing safety breaches. Nevertheless, of their normal trademark of antagonization and vilification of Ortom’s safety initiatives, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Nationwide Secretary, Saleh Alhassan was quoted in an interview on Monday, August 30, 2022 saying the Miyetti Allah is “engaged on creating their very own vigilante teams as a way to shield their folks from the assaults of state-owned safety personnel”. He significantly cited the Benue State native safety outfit as being of concern to the group. Right here too, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has as soon as once more exhibited itself as a lawless group that’s bent on selling anarchy within the land. In any other case one would marvel why any legislation abiding organisation would trouble itself a few constitutional safety formation put in place for the nice of all residents.

Shockingly, practically every week after Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore made that assertion, Nigerians are but to listen to any safety company invite leaders of the group for questioning. So, the place is Governor Ortom incorrect that the federal government of Muhammadu Buhari is in cahoots with Fulani bandits to take over the land referred to as Nigeria? The Presidency can not extricate itself from complicity as Ortom said. They’re but to show that they aren’t shielding Fulanis to deprive Nigerians of their God-given lands by the sword.

Of their normal marketing campaign of victimization and antagonization of Governor Ortom’s efforts towards making certain peace and safety of Benue folks, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore additionally threatened that they’d drag the Governor to the Worldwide Prison Court docket of Justice within the Hague for what they claimed abuse of their rights and seizing of 25,000 cows belonging to their members. Each affordable Nigerian finds such threats ridiculous and nauseating too. The unspeakable crimes dedicated by the Miyetti Allah group in opposition to Benue persons are contemporary within the minds of all. For the group to show round and play the sufferer is a deliberate callous mischief to twist the narrative.

From the foregoing, the place would one in good conscience level out what significantly is Governor Ortom’s offence? The Federal Authorities should cease viewing Ortom as an enemy however as somebody who’s genuinely keen on seeing that the nation avoids plunging itself into the abyss of anarchy. Posterity will keep in mind the roles all of us performed in the direction of salvaging this nation from complete collapse and for Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, he has already earned himself a dignified spot for standing on the facet of fact and justice, peace and fairness for all Nigerians.