The acrimonious relationship between the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has been amicably resolved.
The conflict was resolved in Port Harcourt on Tuesday following the intervention of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and his Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmed Fintiri.
Briefing journalists at the meeting which held at Governor Wike’s private residence at Rumuepirikom, Governor Mohammed described theĀ outburst between him and Governor Ortom over Fulani herders’ profiling as highly regrettable.
“We don’t mean to divide the country, to divide our people. We are still friends and brothers and that we will move forward because most of those issues are fully resolved.
“I want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that whatever misconception that is there, that me and my brother Ortom are having problem or anybody in Nigeria is not true. What happened was just an explanation that emanated from a larger Governors’ Forum that we spoke on the security of the nation and we talked of the failure of security infrastructure which everybody knows is under the purview of the federal government.”
Similarly, Governor Ortom appreciated Governor Wike and Governor FintiriĀ for arranging the meeting where it was agreed that the outburst between him and his Bauchi State counterpart wasĀ not needed.
“We have accepted that it was wrong for us to have that kind of outburst that went out, but as from today we have learnt. We are all fallible human beings and we are subject to mistakes and so when we make mistakes, it is a plus for us if we correct them. And I think moving forward, we shall live together. The Fulani and Tiv people have cohabitated for a long time and there is no issue whatsoever.”
Ortom blamed the failure of the security architecture of the country, which is anchored by the federal government, for the recent outburst between him and Mohammed.
“We look forward that the federal government should stoop down to conquer by accepting that, yes, they have failed, so that together the state and the local government can come together to find a way of finding a lasting solution to this problem.
“As at today, there is no equity, there is no fairness , there is no justice in our country and that is why everywhere in Nigeria, there are issues. So we look forward that the federal government will partner with us. This time, we need not to talk about partisan politics. We must come together. We need not to talk about ethnicity or religion. We must come together as brothers and sisters who have no other country other than Nigeria, to work together towards a common cause that will solve the problem that we have.”
