Ortom apologises over ‘anti-Fulani’ comment

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has apologized to all “those who feel offended” over his statement that “to hell with Atiku Abubakar and those who are supporting Fulani man to become next president.”

Ortom had made the remark on Sunday when he hosted the G5 governors in Makurdi the Capital of Benue that “To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be a slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.

“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet.

“My tenure ends in May and you can do whatever you want if you think you have the powers. I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night. If I die at 62, many of my mates have gone long time ago. If I die today, I’m a fulfilled person but let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.

“I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him,” Ortom said.

But when asked whether he still maintains his position as earlier, Ortom said that: “That was not what I meant when I was captured saying that but all the same I know it will amount to logical fallacy if people have taken it the way I did. But I want to say to those who I have offended by my remarks I don’t mean that, I’m sorry about that,” he said.

He was in Bauchi alongside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 governors in a closed-door meeting with their Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed.

Governors in attendance were, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State while Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was said to be in the United States.