Governor Samuel Ortom made a false accusation against President Muhammadu Buhari regarding Fulani herdsmen, according to the presidency.
Ortom was challenged to divulge his source in a statement released on Wednesday by Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity.
The response from the administration comes in response to the Benue State Governor’s claim that security personnel told him that the president had urged them to leave the killer herders alone in an interview that was published by ICIR on Monday.
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Top security officials allegedly told Ortom sensitive information that the Buhari administration had instructed them not to take action against the murderous herdsmen.
Shehu countered that Ortom’s assertion couldn’t be more false. Additionally, he urged lawmakers and other influential figures to refrain from making rash remarks that would worsen the nation’s security situation.
The presidential adviser charged Ortom with engaging in political dog whistles and attempting to stoke discord among Nigerians.
“In a recent interview, the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, claimed that high ranking security personnel had informed him personally that President Buhari had ordered security forces not to move against the Fulani herdsmen responsible for recent violence,” Shehu said.
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He added that if Ortom is not bold enough to name his source, he should shut up.
“These ridiculous claims are patently untrue. If he is as brave as he claims to be, let him name names. Let him name the military personnel who told him this story or forever shut up.
“It is disappointing that Ortom, who in the same interview describes himself as a child of God who believes in being lawful and respects the Nigerian constitution, felt the need to spread such a divisive lie.
“In a period of heightened insecurity, our politicians should be working to bring us closer together, not risking further violence by dishonestly seeking to further divide us along ethnic or religious lines.
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“Fortunately, the cheap, dog whistle politics behind Ortom’s falsehood are plain for all to see. He is not the first opportunistic politician who has attempted to sow discord amongst his country’s people in the run-up to an election; sadly, he will not be the last,” Shehu added.
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