Following the recent killing of three persons in Ogboju and the heightened tension in Benue South zone ahead of Saturday’s senatorial re-run election in the area, Senator David Mark, has accused the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of fuelling crisis and threatening the peace of the area.
But in a swift reaction, the government dismissed the allegation, insisting that enough security personnel have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the area, before, during and after the rerun elections.
Speaking through the Director General of his campaign organization Abba Moro, Mark called on security agencies to stem further killings in the area.
Moro spoke in Otukpo and claimed that the actions and speeches of APC and the state government ahead of the polls were fuelling the crises and threatening the peace of the zone.
He urged the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities to avert further bloodshed in the area stressing that “as institutions sustained by the commonwealth of Nigerians, we demand no less. Elections are won through the ballot and not through bullets, so any further attempts to unleash thugs on the people of Benue South, before and during the election will be vehemently resisted by the people.
“The people will also resist any attempt to compromise the process in favour of the ruling party. It is also our hope that security agencies will not allow themselves to be compromised; we therefore urge them to be alive to their responsibilities or be prepared to take responsibility for any harm that befalls voters during the poll. On our part as a political family in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), we will continue to be law abiding and not do anything that will threaten the peace of the area.”
Reacting on a special programme on the state-owned Radio Benue, aired Wednesday, Governor Samuel Ortom debunked the allegation of plots by the APC and the state government to unleash havoc in the zone.
Ortom said, “We have mobilized enough security personnel to ensure the safety of lives and property in the area, before, during and after the rerun elections. So, as the chief security officer of the state, I urge all electorates to go out and cast their votes for their preferred candidates on the day of election, without fear of molestation from any quarters.”
-Vanguard