2019: Ortom Suspends Political Activities in Benue State

Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom has suspended political activities in the State.

Ortom made this known in an interview on The Osasu Show.

He said all political activities in the State remain suspended until a solution is proffered for the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Benue lost seventy-eight (78) of its citizens to herdsmen when they attacked the state on New Year day.

When asked if he won’t ask his people to vote he and his party the All Progressive Congress (APC),

“I have suspended all political activities; I don’t want to talk about my own election or any other election in this country until this menace of killing my people stop.

“For now my primary concern is to stop these killings and to ensure that the IDPs go back to their homes and are living peaceful, Once that is done, we can talk about other things, I don’t care about what happens tomorrow. Even if I am not governor, I can stay back and fight for the right of my people,” Ortom said.

He expressed displeasure that the president has not visited the state since the mass massacre.

When we visited, we even invited the president to come to Benue state and pay his condolences to his people… Because we are members of the party, he is our president. If these people are attacking us, we expect him to give us security.

 “He has done a number of things. He directed NEMA to provide relief materials, he also asked for security to be beefed up but I am not satisfied with what the presidency is doing on this matter. There is no doubt about that.

“I ask for justice for Benue people because we have not been treated fairly.”

Ortom also said the attacks on Benue are an act of vengeance by herders for losing the 1804 Jihad. He said Benue people stopped them from penetrating the state through Sokoto.