Buhari Government, Not Ortom, Spreading Division, Hatred Among Nigerians — PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government as being responsible for spreading division and hatred among Nigerians, and not Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

Recall that Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement, had accused Ortom of stiring up hatred by targeting an ethnic group in Nigeria – using language reminiscent of the Rwandan genocide, adding that for the governor of a major state in Nigeria to be politically driven by ethnic hatred is a stain on the country.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, and signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of PDP, he said the Buhari presidency has been planting seeds of discord in the country with hate language, divisive tendencies and unconcealed nepotism to the extent that Nigerians have become widely divided along all fault lines.

According to him, Nigerians have not forgotten how President Buhari, ahead of the 2011 general elections, declared that “if what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood”.

He said it is rather alarming that instead of taking steps to address the killings in Benue State as well as the worsening insecurity, carnages, banditry, terrorism and imminent humanitarian crisis in the country, the Buhari presidency is thinking of the Rwandan genocide while exposing its deep-seated detestation for Governor Ortom.

“Governor Ortom is a highly principled and forthright leader, who is loved not only in Benue, but also across the nation,” the statement said.

It urged Nigerians to hold the Buhari presidency responsible should any harm come to Governor Ortom or his family members.

Reno Omokri slams presidency for attacking Gov Ortom, names Buhari’s alleged sins.

“As a party, the PDP demands that the Buhari Presidency should come clean on its handling of insecurity in the country.

“This is particularly against the backdrop of its manifest failure to battle and rout out terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and marauders that have taken over our highways, forests, pillaging communities and killing Nigerians on a daily basis,” the statement added.