By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The bitter war of words between Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, may have come to an end following a reconciliation meeting on Tuesday initiated by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The verbal war between the two governors started when Bala Mohammed blamed Samuel Ortom and his ‘lack of foresight’ for the negative perception of Fulani herders in the country.
Speaking at a media event last month, Mohammed said: “Unconstructive criticisms bring a lot of hatred and sometimes we are quick to go to the press on issues that are dividing us. I will tell you something that I tell my colleagues about the farmers-herders clashes in Nigeria: He (Governor Ortom) started all these.
“If you don’t accommodate other tribes, there will be challenges because we also accommodate other tribes in Bauchi and other places. We have many Tiv people farming in Alkaleri, Tafawa Balewa, and Bogoro in Bauchi State. Has anybody told them to go? No, because they have inalienable rights to be here.”
H went on to say that Fulani herdsmen have the right to bear AK47 riffles to defend themselves and their cattle.
Irked by Mohammed’s claim, Ortom addressed a press conference in Markudi where he said he has been receiving threats to his life, adding that Bala Mohammed should be held accountable should any untoward thing happens to him.
“I am beginning to think that my brother, the governor of Bauchi State is part of the terrorist Fulani organisation that is terrorising this country,” he fired back.
Interestingly, though from different geo-political zones, the two governors were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Hence, Wike’s intervention.
