Benue: Akume Has Abandoned His People Being Attacked By Fulani Herdsmen – Ortom

The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume has abandoned the people of his constituency who are the ones most affected by the frequent Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom made the allegation while reacting to a call by the Minister for a state of emergency to be declared in Benue over the incessant fights and clashes between herdsmen and farmers/residents.

Ortom further said Akume has never condemned the killings nor deemed it fit to visit the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state though he is a federal minister, describing the situation as painful.

Insisting that Akume must be dragged to court for the ‘smear campaign against him, Ortom said: “What pains me is that this is a human being who was elected as Governor of Benue State two times, elected as senator representing the good people of Zone B three times.

“The majority of people who were affected by the activities of the Fulani herdsmen were in his constituency in Zone B. He has decided to abandon us.

“No time has Akume visited an IDP camp in Benue. As a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Akume has not for once condemned the killings”.

Naija News reports that Akume, a former Benue State Governor, former Benue North-West Senator, and current federal minister, and Ortom, the incumbent state governor have been at loggerheads over the management of affairs and happenings in Benue State.

He recently told Ortom to apologize for his frequent attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari and equally charged the EFCC and ICPC to investigate how state finances are managed, for which Governor Ortom vowed to drag him before a court of law to explain his utterances.