…tells herdsmen to ‘respect Benue laws or go to Bauchi and carry your AK-47’
The feud between Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom deepened on Monday with Ortom raising the alarm of an alleged threat to his life by Mohammed.
Ortom also said that the Bauchi governor should be held responsible should any harm come his way.
The Benue governor also warned that all herders in the state must respect the laws on the illegality of bearing unlicensed firearms or risk the wrath of their violation of the law.
Ortom while addressing newsmen on Monday on the state of security in Benue, Ortom said the utterances by the Bauchi governor and the threat by Fulani herds who wrote to him a threat letter to inform him of their plan to assassinate him, Governor Mohammed should be questions if any evil should befall him.
The Benue governor said that the Bauchi governor’s focus on him constituted a threat to his personal security.
Ortom said, “It’s part of the conspiracy to wipe some people away. I now want to think that with what he (Bauchi governor) has said and what those herdsmen sent to me that they would assassinate me, if anything happens to me, I don’t’ want anybody to be in doubt that Bala Mohammed be held responsible.”
The Benue governor, however, warned that if the herders are not ready to comply with the law against the carrying of arms without licence, they are free to relocate to Bauchi.
Governor Mohammed had recently said herdsmen have no option but to carry AK-47 to protect themselves.
The Bauchi governor’s comment has since been generating widespread criticisms, with many Nigerians stating that such positions encourage the illegal use of arms.
Ortom also condemned the statement, saying as far as he’s concerned, it is against the constitution.
The Benue governor also noted that contrary to Mohammed’s view that herdsmen could live anywhere in Nigeria, the constitution gives power to the governors to decide who can reside in their states.
Ortom said, “Nigeria is not governed anyhow. It is governed by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. The constitution gives power to all our governors in all the states to preside over the land of their states on behalf of the people, and they’re the only people who can give allocation and can permit people to stay where they are. And so, bandits cannot find a forest and come in to hide under that forest.
“Benue state is governed by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. Benue state also has laws guiding them. Once you’re a Fulani man with legitimate papers, you are free to stay in Benue state and do business according to the laws of our land.
“Anyone who is not willing to respect the laws of our land should go and meet Bala Mohammed, and there you can carry AK-47, and you’ll not be apprehended. Here, when you come, we’ll apprehend you. I want this to be known.
“We are not against any tribe, especially the Fulani people, but rather against terrorists, killer herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers, and all types of criminals within the state.”