By NATHANIEL IKYUR
The leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore is at it again. Just over a week ago, the organization, through its national secretary, Saleh Alhassan, issued a statement and tried to invoke hatred against the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, alleging that the governor is inciting Nigerians against the Fulani tribe and herdsmen. This is nothing but a fallacy.
It is obvious that Miyetti Allah and her allies are obsessed with attacking Governor Ortom and would never appreciate him because he has been the major obstacle to their murderous activities.
However, it is only a leader who does not know his onions, and does not have value for human life, or any fear of God that would leave his people to be slaughtered like cattle by blood-thirsty pastoralists.
It is also not surprising that a governor who openly endorsed bearing of illegal arms (AK-47) by Fulani herders that are terrorising their host communities across the nation is the hero of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a group that revels in the spilling of blood of innocent human beings in every community they invade to take over under the guise of pastoralism.
Based on these facts, it is only a group that has territorial conquest ambitions that would see a governor that signs a law to protect his people as “the only achievement”.
Miyetti Allah should know that the primary responsibility of a governor is the protection of lives and property. And Governor Ortom, being a conscionable and conscientious leader, has taken this as his number one priority.
It is rather absurd and laughable for Alhaji Alhassan and his group to maliciously concoct the tissues of lies that Ortom has raised a militia. For what purpose?
This is simply laughable.
To set the record straight, and for the avoidance of doubt, let Miyetti Allah also know that Governor Ortom is a man that believes in the rule of law and has consistently demonstrated this in all his dealings as the state chief executive.
And if one may ask, who is truly culpable of raising a militia between a governor who openly supports a violent group for bearing illegal arms and a governor that enacts a law to check the excesses and terrorist acts of a dangerous militia that brandishes AK-47 assault rifles all over the land?
Once again, let it be known to Miyetti Allah and its allies that the Benue Anti-Open Grazing Law is a product of the aspirations of the people of the state, who voted Governor Ortom into office. And the successes it has recorded so far, being embraced by the entire nation, is a big plus to Governor Ortom and the entirety of Benue people in their ceaseless quest for non-violence but peace-building in Nigeria.
That notwithstanding, the Ortom-led government has made significant progress in all sectors of the Benue State economy, confronting infrastructural deficits since it came on board in 2015. So, it is not true that the law prohibiting open grazing is the only achievement of this administration.
At this juncture, it is therefore ripe to repeat the calls previously made by Governor Ortom and many other patriotic Nigerians on the federal government to tame the leadership of Miyetti Allah, its affiliate groups, and the murderous activities of Fulani herdsmen that are terrorising Nigeria before it is too late.
As the situation remains at the moment, these groups have been most reckless in all their blood-spilling and genocidal public outings, behaving as if they are supreme authorities unto themselves and perpetually above the law.
This evil plot by Miyetti Allah to purposely destabilize the entire Nigeria at all cost must urgently stop.
Nathaniel Ikyur is principal special assistant on media to the governor of Benue State.
