The acrimonious relationship between the Governor of Benue State, Samuel
Ortom and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, has been
amicably resolved.
The conflict was resolved in Port Harcourt on Tuesday following the
intervention of Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his
Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmed Fintiri.
Briefing journalists at the meeting which held at Governor Wike’s
private residence at Rumuepirikom, Governor Mohammed said the outburst
between him and Governor Ortom over herders/Fulani profiling is highly
regrettable.
“we don’t mean to divide the country, to divide our people. We are still
friends and brothers and that we will move forward because most of those
issues are fully resolved.
“I want to seize this opportunity to tell Nigerians that whatever
misconception that is there , that me and my brother Ortom are having
problem or anybody in Nigeria is not true. What happened was just an
explanation that emanated from a larger Governors’ Forum that we spoke
on the security of the nation and we talked of the failure of security
infrastructure which everybody knows is under the purview of the federal
government.”
Similarly, Governor Ortom appreciated Governor Wike and Governor Fintiri
for arranging the meeting where it was agreed that outburst between him
and his Bauchi State counterpart was not needed.
“We have accepted that it was wrong for us to have that kind of outburst
that went out, but as from today we have learnt. We are all fallible
human beings and we are subject to mistakes and so when we make mistakes
, it is a plus for us if we correct them. And I think moving forward, we
shall live together. The Fulani and Tiv people have cohabitated for a
long time and there is no issue whatsoever.”
Governor Ortom identified the failure of the security architecture of
the country which is anchored by the federal government for the recent
outburst between him and Governor Mohammed.
“We look forward that the federal government should stoop down to
conquer by accepting that, yes ,they have failed, so that together the
State and the local government can come together to find a way of
finding a lasting solution to this country
“As at today, there is no equity, there is no fairness , there is no
justice in our country and that is why everywhere in Nigeria there are
issues. So we look forward that the Federal Government will partner with
us. This time we need not to talk about partisan politics. We must come
together. We need not to talk about ethnicity or religion. We must come
together as brothers and sisters who have no other country than Nigeria,
to work together towards a common cause that will solve the problem that
we have.”
Governor Wike thanked the Governors of Bauchi and Benue States for
amicably resolving their dispute.
“We give God the glory today that those difference have been sorted out.
We are members of one political party. Like what the Governor of Bauchi
and Governor of Benue said, we don’t want the inefficiency, we don’t
want the incapacity of the Federal Government in handling the issue of
insecurity in the country to rub on us.
“Everybody knows that the Federal Government has failed in providing
security for this country. And of course you will not blame them. They
(Ortom and Mohammed) are under pressure from their various States. It
is not as if they have any personal issue.”
Governor Wike observed that the All Progressives Congress was rejoicing
that there was a disagreement between the Governors of Benue and Bauchi
States, but noted that the opposition party will be disillusioned now
that the disagreement has been resolved.
“They will not be happy today that two of them have now made up to work
together. ”
Governor Wike urged the media to be a bit more circumspect in reporting
issues that could further polarize the country.
“But you too the press, you should have a role to play in stabilizing
the country. It is not everything you must report. You don’t try to
escalate things. When you do that your not helping the country.”
On his part, Adamawa State Governor , Ahmed Fintiri, said as national
leaders, it was incumbent of him and Governor Wike to intervene in the
disagreement between their Benue and Bauchi counterparts.