What Bala Muhammad told Ortom about the 'Fulani' comment – Source
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State expressed dismay at Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom's statement that he would not vote for Atiku Abubakar or any Fulani man .
Mr. Mohammed, who welcomed Mr Ortom and other governors to Bauchi today, said he felt bad about ethnic profiling.
Mr. Ortom vowed never to vote for PDP presidential candidate Atiku and any other Fulani in a video that has gone viral. The group has been fighting Atiku ever since he became the party's flag bearer.
Mr. Ortom was in Bauchi alongside Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu State for a solidarity visit to fraternize with the Governor of Bauchi . They met behind closed doors but then spoke to reporters.
But an informed source who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said Mr. Mohammed had advised Mr. Ortom to withdraw his statement.
>Mr. Mohammed also advised the G-5 group to avoid portraying their fight as a fight against a Muslim.
The source said that Mr. Mohammed tried to explain to the Governor of Benue the implications of the remarks on national politics.
"He (Mr. Mohammed) said that since all those who are fighting Atiku Abubakar are Christians, Nigerians might start thinking that they are doing this because Atiku is a Muslim and they are all Christians. said that when former President Goodluck Jonathan had problems with some party members, it was on the other side of the line; Muslims and Christians, northerners and southerners,” the source said.
Ortom apologizesWhile speaking to reporters after the closed-door meeting, one of the reporters asked Mr. Ortom if he still stood his ground on the Fulani comment.
Mr. Ortom replied that he was misunderstood.
"Thank you for your question, but I want to say that's not what I meant when I was caught saying that. But still, I know it will be a logical mistake if the people took it as it was. I mean to those who are offended by my comments, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry."
Coming also, Mr. Wike said the group has not closed its doors to reconciliation.
"I have said many times that we are here for reconciliations. All we say is for fairness, fairness and justice. This is what the party stands for. We We've never closed the door and we won't close the door All we're saying is look let the right thing be done If the right thing is done you'll see how the whole country will know that the election is over
PastIn a viral video, Mr. Ortom was seen saying that he would not support Atiku's presidential candidacy because people in the state are still being killed by Fulanis.
"To hell with Atiku and everyone who supports him. They should go tell him. You want me to be a slave to a Fulani. It is better that I die. Anyone who supports Atiku is an enemy of Benue", he said angrily.
“I will never support a Fulani to become president. If there is another person who is willing to work with me and keep my people safe, I will work with them.”
Mr. Ortom, alongside Mr. Wike, has been fighting Atiku since being elected in the party's presidential primary.
They want the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign, arguing that it is not normal that the presidential candidate and the party chairman come from the North.
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Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State expressed dismay at Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom's statement that he would not vote for Atiku Abubakar or any Fulani man .
Mr. Mohammed, who welcomed Mr Ortom and other governors to Bauchi today, said he felt bad about ethnic profiling.
Mr. Ortom vowed never to vote for PDP presidential candidate Atiku and any other Fulani in a video that has gone viral. The group has been fighting Atiku ever since he became the party's flag bearer.
Mr. Ortom was in Bauchi alongside Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu State for a solidarity visit to fraternize with the Governor of Bauchi . They met behind closed doors but then spoke to reporters.
But an informed source who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said Mr. Mohammed had advised Mr. Ortom to withdraw his statement.
>Mr. Mohammed also advised the G-5 group to avoid portraying their fight as a fight against a Muslim.
The source said that Mr. Mohammed tried to explain to the Governor of Benue the implications of the remarks on national politics.
"He (Mr. Mohammed) said that since all those who are fighting Atiku Abubakar are Christians, Nigerians might start thinking that they are doing this because Atiku is a Muslim and they are all Christians. said that when former President Goodluck Jonathan had problems with some party members, it was on the other side of the line; Muslims and Christians, northerners and southerners,” the source said.
Ortom apologizesWhile speaking to reporters after the closed-door meeting, one of the reporters asked Mr. Ortom if he still stood his ground on the Fulani comment.
Mr. Ortom replied that he was misunderstood.
"Thank you for your question, but I want to say that's not what I meant when I was caught saying that. But still, I know it will be a logical mistake if the people took it as it was. I mean to those who are offended by my comments, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry."
Coming also, Mr. Wike said the group has not closed its doors to reconciliation.
"I have said many times that we are here for reconciliations. All we say is for fairness, fairness and justice. This is what the party stands for. We We've never closed the door and we won't close the door All we're saying is look let the right thing be done If the right thing is done you'll see how the whole country will know that the election is over
PastIn a viral video, Mr. Ortom was seen saying that he would not support Atiku's presidential candidacy because people in the state are still being killed by Fulanis.
"To hell with Atiku and everyone who supports him. They should go tell him. You want me to be a slave to a Fulani. It is better that I die. Anyone who supports Atiku is an enemy of Benue", he said angrily.
“I will never support a Fulani to become president. If there is another person who is willing to work with me and keep my people safe, I will work with them.”
Mr. Ortom, alongside Mr. Wike, has been fighting Atiku since being elected in the party's presidential primary.
They want the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign, arguing that it is not normal that the presidential candidate and the party chairman come from the North.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
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