Herdsmen: We Won’t Take Instructions From A Deposed Emir – Ortom Blasts Sanusi

 

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has fired back at the deposed Emir of Kano State, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi over his comments on the unfortunate Nasarawa incident which left herdsmen dead in an airstrike.

 

Ortom warned Sanusi to restrain himself from meddling in the affairs of the state.

 

He advised Alhaji Sanusi to instead face the court litigations surrounding his dethronement.

 

The Governor spoke Tuesday at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, while inaugurating the Benue Sexual Assault Referral Centre, known as DOHAPITU Clinic.

 

Governor Ortom wondered why as educated and exposed as the dethroned Emir was, he would resort to telling lies about an elected personality like himself just to suit his purpose.

 

Sanusi had, in a recent video which went viral, dragged Ortom to the unfortunate incident in Nassarawa State where some persons alleged to be Fulani herdsmen were killed in an air strike attack, the source of which is still a subject of an investigation by relevant authorities.

 

The deposed Emir called on the Benue governor to learn from his brother governors on how to manage the diversity in his state, citing the Governor of Plateau State as his model.

 

The Governor said while he does not intend to join issues with the deposed Emir because of the sacredness with which he holds human lives, he maintained that the anti-open grazing law, which the deposed Emir made reference to in the video, is a law that was validly passed by the Benue State House of Assembly which prescribed penalties against its violations.

 

He said the Benue State Government or indeed the governor cannot deploy a drone or any military assets in any part of the country.

 

According to the Governor, “at the appropriate time I will formally respond to that evil presentation to Mr. President against me. I will talk about my story and expose the evil that is going on orchestrated by those that are perceived to be educated and prominent and supposed to be leaders.”

Governor Ortom said he found it strange that Alhaji Sanusi would advise him to govern Benue like his Plateau State counterpart, saying he was “elected by the people of Benue State and my allegiance is to Benue State people, not to any man in Kano.”

 

Governor Ortom pointed out that the law prohibiting open grazing in Benue State, which Alhaji Sanusi was against, “is not in conflict with the constitution of Nigeria so nobody can stop us from enforcing the rights and practice of the law.”

 

On the Benue Sexual Assault Referral Centre, the Governor expressed optimism that it would be able to address all the issues confronting victims of rape in the state in order to give them justice.

 

He commended his wife, Dr. Eunice Ortom, and those whose assistance ensured the centre’s establishment and assured that his government would not relent in supporting programmes in the health sector.

 

Wife of the Governor, Dr. Eunice Ortom, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Tabitha Igirgi, said the compelling need to give victims of rape hope for a better life drove her passion for the establishment of the centre.

 

The Coordinator, Benue Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Dr. Laadi Swende, said the centre would among other things provide emergency care services, offer family planning and prevention for sexually transmitted infections to victims of rape.

 

Dr. Swende pointed out that the centre was open to partnership from private organisations and good-spirited individuals to enable it to operate twenty hours thanked the State Government for providing the funding for its establishment.

 

Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Ngbea and Chief Medical Director, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Professor Terrumun Swende in their goodwill messages appreciated Governor Ortom and his wife for their achievements in the health sector.