According to the Benue Youth Forum (BYF), Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, is allegedly supporting terrorists who massacred citizens in Benue State.
BYF claimed Atiku recently made fun of victims who were killed while defending a herdsmen attack in the state in a “careless and unfortunate” speech.
The group reprimanded Atiku for recent comments in which he claimed that Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom had created a terrorist and bandit profile of the Fulani people. They also criticized him for the massacre of over 40 people, including two police officers, in Gbeji, Ukum Local Government Area, last week.
Atiku’s comments, according to BYF President, Terrence Kuanum, were yet another bad mistake.
They pleaded with Atiku to condemn the Fulani militia’s act in order to show his love for the Tiv people.
This was declared by the group in a statement released by Kuanum on Thursday.
The statement read, “That careless and callous comment coming from an individual who is parading himself as a “unifier” clearly shows where he stands on the incessant invasion of Benue communities and massacre of the people and the destruction of their property by well armed Fulani militiamen.
“We see that evil statement which came from the abundance of Atiku’s heart as a justification of the massacre in Benue state and a mockery of those who died in those attacks as well as a declaration of support for the marauding Fulani terrorists that carry those heinous activities.”
Requesting that Atiku should lose his Zege Mule U Tiv title, BYF instructed the Tiv Traditional Council to monitor his future comments about the government.
The group asked that he publicly retract his comments and issue an apology to the people of the state.
The PDP presidential candidate was challenged by BYF to show a genuine commitment to the Benue people and to show that, if elected, he will condemn such terrorist activities.