Killings: Ortom attacks Buhari, Garba Shehu, says criticism shows fulani bias

The Govenor of Benue, Samuel Ortom, on Friday, reiterated that the Fulani militias unleashing terror on innocent people had the support of Federal Government.

Reacting to the statement that emanated from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who said that the Presidency expected the governor to remain silent when herdsmen continued to attack his people.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Ortom said such callous response by Shehu showed the tacit support of the Presidency for herdmen in the country.

According to him, the election of President Buhari into office was for him to act decisively and in an unbiased manner towards any tribe whatsoever and always run to the aid of those that needed him whenever the need arises in any part of the country.

The governor said, “Many other Nigerians of good conscience have at different times made similar calls. What the governor, therefore, deserves is commendation and not condemnation.

“If Garba Shehu claims that the President is disappointed in the Benue State governor for speaking against the sustained attacks on his people, we wonder how he feels about the killings in the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and other parts of the North Central. Are those killings occurring as a result of the comments of governors of the affected states?

“It is shocking that Shehu would make a statement regarding an attack evidently carried out by Fulani herdsmen and there won’t be a single sentence of reproach directed at the violent Fulani herders. Such a deliberate omission smacks of complicity and tacit support for the killer herders.” he added.