Presidency Is Avoiding Discussions On Insecurity – Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of avoiding discussions concerning insecurity in the country.

The Peoples Democratic Party member also asked Buhari to rescue the nation from bandits, kidnappers and terrorists.

In a statement issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Thursday, Ortom challenged the president to hold a referendum to ascertain his claim.

Ortom also lambasted the handlers of President Buhari saying they shy away from the reality on ground.

The governor was reacting to a recent statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Garba Sheu.

He challenged the presidency to tell Nigerians steps been taken to end the unprecedented bloodshed perpetrated by armed Fulani terrorists in the country.

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The statement read, “Each time I speak about the dreadful manner the Muhammadu Buhari administration has handled the security situation in the country, his media aides and hangers-on come out attacking my personality instead of addressing the issues I raised.”

“It is sad and unfortunate that the likes of Garba Shehu have zero sympathies for the families of those being killed daily by Fulani terrorists. As long as their meal ticket is secured, they tell Mr President to go to bed, that all is well with the country.”

He went on, “Shehu blew the opportunity to prove me wrong that I raised a false alarm about the worsening security situation in the country. Hundreds of our citizens are held captive by terrorists in the forests. I expected Shehu to tell Nigerians what efforts the Federal Government has made to release the hostages.

“Was it a false alarm from me that led to the terrorists’ attack on the convoy of President Buhari in his home state Katsina? Or was it a movie acting when terrorists broke into Kuje Correctional Centre right in the heart of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and released their colleagues? It is unfortunate that till date, no officer has been arrested or questioned for the lapses and clear cases of complicity by the security operatives attached to the Kuje facility. There are reports of over six jailbreaks in the last seven years under the Buhari administration. If that is not a crying shame of failure on the part of the Presidency, we wonder what else qualifies as a failure.

“Everyone is aware how the Buhari administration descends heavily and brutally on other groups like Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or Sunday Igboho who have been declared as terrorists with their members arrested and incarcerated but the same government treats Fulani terrorists with kid gloves.”