The spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, Dino Melaye, has said the comment of Benue Governor Samuel Ortom about the alleged killings of Benue people by Fulani herders in relation to Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition is unfair.
He said Atiku could not be blamed for crimes committed by Fulani herders.
Melaye made the statement in an Arise TV interview on Tuesday.
The PUNCH reports that Ortom, late hours of Sunday, called the bluff of the presidential candidate of the PDP, saying, “to hell with Atiku.”
Ortom, who spoke when he hosted the other members of the (himself being one of them) ‘G-5 governors’: Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; said he would not support Atiku’s presidential bid to continue the killing of Benue people.
He lamented the killing of 18 persons in his council area last Friday where a young man in his 20s had his eyes removed to send a message to him (Ortom).
Ortom had said, “To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.
“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet.
“My tenure ends in May and you can do whatever you want if you think you have the powers. I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night. If I die at 62, many of my mates have gone long time ago and If I die today, I’m a fulfilled person but let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.
“I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him.”
Reacting to Ortom’s comment on Tuesday, Melaye said, “Everybody has the right to support any presidential candidate of their choice. But it is unfair for Governor Ortom to put the blame of criminalities of Fulani herders going on in Benue State on the lap of our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”
Melaye, who said he also “condemn the attacks and killing of people in Benue”, emphasised that “this has nothing to do with Atiku Abubakar.”
He noted that former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Umar Yar’Adua were both from the Fulani race and they had Benue indigenes in their respective governments.
The former Kogi Senator said there were good Muslims and Christians among the Fulani, hence not all Fulani are evil.
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