Elder Simon Achuba is a former Deputy Governor of Kogi state. He was in Makurdi, the Benue State capital recently alongside his secondary school mates from Idah Secondary Commercial College, ISCC, to celebrate with Governor Samuel Ortom, their school mate. Ortom was enrolled into the school in 1976. At a cocktail party organised in honour of the association, Achuba made a profound statement. He admonished Benue people not to be vulnerable and give room for what he described as “evil manipulators who want to get a hold of your people.” He said such forces “don’t look far. They take one from that community to destroy it. And so once leaders are bought over, oppression will continue.” Achuba spoke to a handful but he was talking about Benue’s current political situation.
Governor Ortom’s hard stance against the killing of Benue citizens by Fulani herdsmen in the state has put him in bad light with forces in the Presidency. They’ve been scouting for a spoiler from within to ‘teach the Governor a lesson.’ Sadly, they’ve found comfort in certain political elements in the opposition APC in the state, led by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume. A few days ago, some APC leaders from Ihyarev intermediate group in Makurdi, Guma and Gwer-West local government areas joined him as co-agents. And they’re ready to surrender their lands to some feudal lords.
On Monday, 30th August, 2021, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume addressed that infamous press conference in Abuja. Akume’s high point at the press outing is that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency in Benue State. He blamed Governor Ortom for the insecurity in the state and stockpiling of arms. And that the governor has no regards for the President as an elder. He also cast unimaginable aspersions on the Governor, making unfounded claims. The governor has already taken legal steps to put the Minster to the strictest proof through the law courts.
Akume needs no introduction. He is a former two-term Governor of the State. He was also elected three times as senator to represent Benue North West senatorial district that has been badly hit by these herdsmen attacks. One thought that the Minister had graduated to the status of a statesman. But from that inglorious outing in Abuja and the recruitment of more spoilers into his fold, the display within the comfort of an armoured carrier on the streets of Makurdi, the Minister descended lower than public expectations of him. One expected civility and decorum from the minister. He also ought to have respected the exalted office which he had once occupied. Ordinarily, he should treat the people of Benue state more kindly for elevating him to prominence for an uninterrupted 20 years not to stoke violence at the pleasure of those he wants to please. But alas, he exhibits this god factor over Benue and on all emerging political leaders in the state.
It is unimaginable to think that the Minister and his fellow APC elders seeking relevance elsewhere do not believe that the security situation in Benue State is deteriorating like in Plateau, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Katsina amongst others because of the activities of Fulani herdsmen. And one wonders how it pleases the former governor to destroy the very democratic structures that made him. He’s angry that Ortom and the PDP is gaining too much political mileage in Benue and diminishing the fortunes of the APC which he still feels he could use to cling to national reckoning. His tenure as governor also witnessed the deaths of many, including two of his classmates, the late Iorember Jija and Joshua Ajande. These two gentlemen were cut in the unfortunate web of communal conflict between Gwer and Konshisha Local Government Area of the state when he was Governor. That’s not to talk of the massacre in Zaki-Biam and it’s neighbourhoods of Gbeji, Vaase, Anyiin and Tse Adoor. Yet, nobody accused him of stockpiling arms. With all these security issues, the Minister wants to shut up the governor.
Benue State, like many other states in the country is under siege by the activities of herdsmen. From 2018 till date, 18 local governments out of the 23 are affected. They have invaded villages in Agatu, Ado, Logo, Tarka, Guma, Makurdi, Kwande, Gwer East and Gwer-West etc. They kill people in their sleep, maim, rape, destroy farmlands and displace communities. Are these facts or fiction?
Governor Ortom has met with the President on several occasions. He also wrote letters, asking the President to end these unprovoked killings of Benue communities. For instance, on June 7th, 2017, the Governor wrote to the President a letter titled, “Incessant Violent Attacks on Benue Farmers in Benue State by Armed Herdsmen” with Ref. No. AI/68/T.I/64. The Governor outlined details of the activities of the attacks on Benue State. Few months after, precisely on 16th October, 2017, the governor again wrote to the President on the “Alleged Planned Attack by Fulani Herdsmen on Benue State and the need to Support the Anti-Open Grazing Law Ref. No. AI/68/I/149.” In the aftermath of the 2018 bloody new year killings of Benue citizens, Governor Ortom again wrote on January 2, 2018 with Ref. No. AI/68/I/174 entitled, “Violent Attacks on Communities in Benue State by Armed Fulani Herdsmen” and another letter on January 18th, 2018 where the state governor further raised alarm over “Fresh Planned Attacks by Fulani Herdsmen on Benue people” with Ref. No. AI/68/I/189. The President simply looked the other way why the killers had a field day. In all, the President’s response has been unimpressive. How these Benue leaders chose to be silent with all these beats our imagination.
Governor Ortom feels that the Buhari administration acted without caution when it approved the Open Visa Policy which opened the gate for unprecedented influx of Fulani herdsmen from other Arianna countries who carry sophisticated and prohibited weapons into Nigeria. They also do not comply with the ECOWAS protocol on transhumance. The governor have also asked that the National Livestock Transformation Plan be implemented as approved by the National Economic Council.
We expected the minister to impress on the Federal Government to redeem the N10 billion pledge made on 15th May, 2018 by Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement of the same displaced persons who had voted for him to be Governor. That way, the displaced persons will have hope of returning to their ancestral homes.
Many wants Governor Ortom to shut up. If he doesn’t speak, who will? If anyone want Ortom to stop talking, let the killings stop. Let them drive out the invaders who are here to conquer and enslave. They have rendered more than 1.5million Benue people homeless and occupied their lands. That’s the only way to silence Ortom. But as Elder Achuba counselled, may we never be found vulnerable enough to be used as tools in the hands of oppressors against our communities.
Ikyur is the Principal Special Assistant on Media to the Executive Governor of Benue State
