Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has suspended political activities in the State.
He made this known during an Interview on The Osasu Show. Ortom said all political activities in the State remain suspended until a solution is proffered for the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
When asked if he will not tell his people to vote for him and his party; the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ortom said:
“I have suspended all political activities, I don’t want to talk about my own election or any other election in this country until this menace of killing my people stop.
“For now my primary concern is to stop these killings and to ensure that the IDPs go back to their homes and are living peaceful, once that is done, we can talk about other things, I don’t care about what happens tomorrow. Even if I am not governor, I can stay back and fight for the right of my people.”
He expressed displeasure that the president has not visited the state since the mass massacre.
“When we visited, we even invited the president to come to Benue state and pay his condolences to his people, because we are members of the party, he is our president. If these people are attacking us, we expect him to give us security.
“He has done a number of things. He directed NEMA to provide relief materials, he also asked for security to be beefed up but I am not satisfied with what the presidency is doing on this matter. There is no doubt about that.
“I ask for justice for Benue people because we have not been treated fairly.”
Ortom also said the attacks on Benue is an act of vengeance by Herders for losing the 1804 Jihad. He said Benue people stopped them from penetrating the state through Sokoto.
Benue state lost 78 citizens when herdsmen attacked the state on new year day.
