Presidency tackles Gov Ortom, lists steps Buhari took to address Benue killings

The Presidency has listed the steps taken President Muhammadu Buhari To address the security situation in Benue State, saying the performance of the president in the state speaks for itself.

Garba Shehu, media aide to the president, in a statement on Wednesday, said it is wrong to blame the security situation in Benue State on Mr. Buhari, noting that the president had taken personal steps to address the problem.

Mr. Shehu was reacting to separate editorials by Daily Trust and ThisDay on the recent surge in killings in the state.

The security situation in Benue state, in the north-central part of Nigeria, has recently deteriorated as armed men have killed several people in various parts of the state.

Earlier this month, more than 100 people were killed in separate attacks by armed men in the state.

Over 80 people died in Entekpa-Adoka Umogidi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of ​​the state, 34 others were said to have died in Mgaban village in Guma Local Government Area.

Mr Buhari condemned the murders

Both newspapers blamed the federal government for the deteriorating security situation in the state.

“And that, we must note, is a grave failure on the part of President Buhari himself. It is true that Ortom has not made it easy for the federal government to help Benue, but that should not matter because the president is not the main protector of all Nigerians wherever they live, according to our constitution, he he is also. the father of all, according to our traditions. Both roles are not insignificant and it should be possible for the president to use the resources in his office to find a way to work with the local government and communities in or around to intervene and achieve lasting peace in Benue.

“President Buhari has not left much in office but there is still so much he could do to avoid some kind of civil war in Benue,” Daily Trust published the headline.Benue is burning: Where is the President??” partially read.

The president took the steps

But Mr. Shehu said Mr. Buhari held meetings with Mr. Ortom and other community leaders during which he assured them of the federal government’s commitment to protect farmers and communities.

He also said that the president had established and funded joint security operations, and had deployed special security forces at points in the state. Those deployed include the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

Mr. Shehu also said that the president immediately provided humanitarian assistance to the victims through the Ministry of Human Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The presidential aide said if Mr. Ortom had not politicized the tragedies, the situation in Benue would have been different.

“Perhaps, if the disgraced Governor Ortom had been more concerned with doing his job rather than politicizing the tragedies that happen so often under his watch, the situation in Benue could be very different, like any of its neighbors – Taraba, Nasarawa, FCT – which all enjoy peace,” he said. Mr. Shehu

Read the full statement below:

PRESIDENT BUHARI’S BENUE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. LET THE PEOPLE OF BENUE TALK TOO

In a series of seemingly syndicated editorials, newspapers in this country – Daily Trust and ThisDay – have tried to lay the blame for the dire security situation in Benue State squarely at the feet of the outgoing president.

As for the man who has been the head of Benue State for the past eight years, Governor Samuel Ortom, the editors of those publications, in their almost identical articles, chose to give him a free pass.

Fortunately, the people of Benue State know the truth. After all, they are the ones who suffered under Ortom’s “leadership” – if they call it that. They are the ones who have experienced first hand the mass murders, tortures, atrocities, as the security situation in Benue has deteriorated more and more.

They are the ones who buried their loved ones while they watched their careless, irresponsible and incompetent governor politicking in those newly dug graves.

And they are the ones who resorted to their last remaining privilege: their democratic privilege to massively dump Ortom and his so-called Peoples Democratic Party in favor of a new governor, Father Hyacinth Iornem Alia of Reverend Buhari’s party, APC.

But since Daily Trust and ThisDay are not as well informed as their Benue compatriots, this blatant rewriting of history must be confronted. For their edification, we humbly present the list of steps taken by President Buhari personally to address the deteriorating situation in Benue, far and wide.

These were, in many cases, completely ignored – if not completely obstructed – by former Governor Ortom:

i. They have held numerous face-to-face meetings with the Governor of Benue State and other community leaders, assuring the Federal Government of its commitment to protect farmers and communities.

ii. Establishing and funding Joint Security Operations, called Operation Whirl Stroke (OWS).

Until now, the OWS Group remains the same. Some OWS security agents have given their lives protecting the people of Benue. Many more were put at risk by Ortom’s fake news and disinformation campaigns, and his unwillingness to engage with the project.

iii. Deployment of special security forces to flash points in the State including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

iv. Deployment of NAF fighter jets, Mi-35 helicopter jets and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms.

v. Ten (10) Police Mobile Force Units, Ten (10) Police Special Forces Units (Tactical Operation Units) and Air Surveillance Teams (Police Helicopters).

vi. Acquisition and deployment of modern military weaponry.

vii. To provide timely and actionable intelligence to Ortomi (which were usually neglected).

viii. Provide immediate humanitarian assistance to victims through the Ministry of Human Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

Despite these efforts, we know that the new Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, she has her work cut out for her. In his words, he is inheriting a State in the Intensive Care Unit.

Perhaps if the disgraced Governor Ortom had cared more about doing his job than politicizing the tragedies that so often occur under his charge, the situation in Benue could have been very different, like any of his neighbors (Taraba, Nasarawa, FCT) and all. enjoy the peace

Instead, Ortom adamantly refused the specific and holistic approach clearly outlined by the Federal Government. He arrogantly chose his destructive path.

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He blamed the Fulani for all the problems that arose. He ignored numerous intelligence reports that were given to him for action. He dismissed police findings on investigations that did not conform to his egotistical worldview. He politicized all the lives lost on the clock.

So thank God the people of Benue rejected him so roundly in the election. His contract was not renewed. He failed in the Senate elections. Even the person he accepted to rule was rejected.

They know the real reasons for the situation in Benue better than anyone else. If anyone is looking for someone to blame, ask the people of Benue.

Garba Shehu is the Special Assistant to the President

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