The drama surrounding the bants between Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state and his colleague, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State following the the latter’s claim of death threats seems not to be ending soon.
Few day ago, Ortom had alleged that since he attacked Bala for saying that he was criminalizing the Fulanis, he has continued to receive death threats. He had called Bala a Fulani terrorist and said that he should held responsible if any harm came to him.
Reacting to this, Bala has challenged his colleague to provide proof that he actually sent him death threats. He expressed shock that Ortom could come out and accuse him of such a thing.
The governor in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, stated that he relishes the freedom of speech provided by Nigeria’s democracy. However, he challenges Ortom to come out and explain with proofs that he (Bala) is conniving with people to kill him.
The statement reads;
”In our resolve to deescalate the tension that has gripped the country over the sacking of Fulani herdsman from Ondo State, we had resolved not to join issues with any other person over the position of His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, on the issue.
However, while standing on that resolve, it will be irresponsible of us to ignore two unfortunate claims made by the Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, at a press conference last Monday. During the conference, Governor Ortom alleged, among other things, that:
Governor Bala Mohammed is a terrorist, sponsoring those he described as Fulani terrorist herdsmen.”
And he, Governor Ortom, had received a letter from Fulani herdsmen to the effect that they were going to kill him (Governor Ortom) and that Governor Bala Mohammed should be held responsible if he (Governor Ortom) dies”
We are therefore shocked that Governor Ortom could, in good conscience, address a fellow Governor whom, he had described as a brother, as a terrorist and who should, to wit, be placed under watch should anything untoward happen to him (Ortom).
We want to state that Governor Ortom has carried the unfortunate theatrics, for which he is well known, to a very precipitous level of brinkmanship.
As a journalist and democrat, Governor Bala Mohammed, concedes to Governor Ortom the right to reply. However, through his unfounded and grave allegations, the Benue State Governor has over-personalised the matter, thereby reducing the debate to a level of toxicity that is neither healthy for the country nor helpful to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
One of the main attractions of democracy is the freedom of speech which we relish very much in this country. That is why anybody can rise and make any allegation as they choose. However, as the legal dictum goes, he who alleges must prove.
So, if Governor Ortom is not playing to the gallery, we challenge him to substantiate his claim that Governor Bala Mohammed is in cahoots with anybody to kill the Benue State Governor.’’
