The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has waded into the feud between Bala and Ortom as both the Bauchi State governor, and his Benue counterpart, continue their war of words over the issue of banditry and herdsmen-farmers clashes.
The PDP in a statement released on Monday 22nd February 2021, by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party is calling for calm between Bala and Ortom as the internal reconciliation mechanism introduced by the hierarchy of the party between the two governors subsists.
The PDP however urges the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address the escalated security challenges in our country.
The statement by PDP is coming a few hours after Ortom alleged threats to his life, while accusing Governor Bala Mohammed of being a terrorist by supporting illegal arms wielding foreign herdsmen.
“I want to think that, with what he said and what those herdsmen wrote to me and said that they were going to assassinate me, Bala Mohammed is also part of it, with what he has said.
“And if anything happens to me, I don’t want anybody to be in doubt, Bala Mohammed should be held responsible. Especially his last week outing after the condemnable remarks he made about Fulani carrying AK-47 and living anywhere in Nigeria.
“He came back to say Ortom is responsible for the hatred against Fulani men and I regard this as a way of vilifying me and profiling me towards assassination. He wants to instigate the Fulani people against me. I am not against Fulani people, they are in Benue State and they remain here,” Ortom said.
He also called on Governor Mohammed to render an unreserved apology to Nigerians and learn from the provisions of the constitution that, land both territorial, forest, and aquatic, are vested on the governor of a state who holds them in trust, instead of indulging in inciting Fulani herdsmen against innocent Nigerians.
“I think the governor of Bauchi State, my brother, Governor Bala Mohammed should just come out and apologise to Nigerians,” Governor Ortom said.