Governor of Benue State Ortom has demanded that Gov Mohammed Bala of Bauchi should tender an apology for uttering unguided utterances on the activities of armed herdsmen and learn from the constitution, which provides that land, includes forests, is vested in the governor who holds them in trust.
He said Mohammed should learn from the governors of Kano and Kaduna as well as scholars who had supported calls to ban open grazing and the need not to pamper bandits.
He said that herdsmen who are not willing to obey the laws of the state should relocate to Bauchi where Mohammed has allowed them to carry AK47.
He noted that herders attacks had left hundreds of thousands in displaced persons’ camps and dealt a heavy blow on children.
The governor said his call for the declaration of a state of emergency on security was a patriotic one that has the backing of senators, expressing the hope that his letter to Mr President would receive the desired attention.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom also accused his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed, of backing armed herdsmen.
Addressing reporters at the Government House in Makurdi yesterday, Ortom alleged that the Bauchi governor may be among the armed herdsmen who want him dead.
He was reacting to Mohammed’s comments that herders could bear arms, including AK47, to protect themselves.
“Some herdsmen wrote me a letter that they will kill me.
“From the way and manner my brother and governor of Bauchi spoke in support of the herdsmen carrying arms, I suspect that he is among those who want to kill me.
“Should anything happen to me, they should not look far…I wouldn’t want to be joining issues with my brother, friend, and colleague Bauchi governor.
“But, since he has continued to vilify, intimidate and blackmail me, it is said that silence is consent. I am compelled to respond to him.
“I am beginning to think that my brother, the governor of Bauchi State is part of the terrorist organization that is terrorising this country.
“Why do I say this? This is the same governor who took the oath of office to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This constitution does not leave room for allowing foreign herdsmen to come in without valid papers.
“It is quite disappointing to hear a governor who took the oath of office say this.
“Maybe, he should go back and check the oath of office he took, to check maybe the constitution gives room for foreign terrorist herdsmen to come into Nigeria.