Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed of being part of those who allegedly have the compelling desire to keep him.
Ortom and Mohammed are locked horns over the activities of militia Fulani with the latter not seeing anything bad with it to the chagrin of the latter leading to a bitter exchange.
On Monday while addressing newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the governor alleged that he received death from suspected terrorists and is persuaded to believe that his Bauchi counterpart is among those after his life.
According to him, “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 organisation 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.
“His recent outburst that herdsmen are justified for carrying AK-47 to protect themselves is quite unfortunate.
“I don’t know where the constitution of this country allows that.”
Interestingly, both governors are elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
