The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has observed with total dismay and disappointment “the insensitivity and utter recklessness”, with which some highly-placed persons in the Middle Belt extraction are treating issues of insecurity affecting the region.
The SOKAPU President, Comrade Jonathan Asake, in a statement he personally issued noted that, “The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) is constrained to observe with total dismay and disappointment the insensitivity and utter recklessness with which some highly-placed persons of the Middle Belt extraction continue to treat issues of insecurity affecting the Middle Belt Region with levity.”
According to the statement, of particular reference is what it called “the recent embarrassing outing by a one-time governor of Benue State, Sen George Akume” who is now the Minister of Special Duties under this current administration.
“In his press conference held in Abuja, as if under a spell or influence of some illicit substances, the former governor could not hide his desperation in pulling down Governor Samuel Ortom and indeed the entire people of Benue State who have for the past six years been under severe attacks by Fulani herdsmen militia,” the statement explained.
SOKAPU said instead of using his (Senator Ankume) good office and closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari to tell Mr President the naked truth about the atrocities being perpetrated by invading Fulani herdsmen militia against the Benue people, it lamented that he rather chose to play the role of an errand boy desperate to change the narrative and misinform or mislead the Nigerian people on the true situation on the ground.
According to the forum, nothing can be more unfortunate and pathetic than a situation where a man who is looked up to by the Benue people as a father and patriot, but has chosen to stoop so low as to play the role of a man Friday in defence and promotion of a well-orchestrated agenda of Fulanisation which will ultimately consume everybody, including himself, if not checkmated.
SOKAPU explained that it is interested in what is happening not only in Benue but also in Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Taraba, Adamawa and, indeed, all other states of the Middle Belt, South-South, South-East, South-West, North-West and the North-East where it called “these mindless Fulani militias” have visited its terror on peaceful and defenceless communities leaving in its trail blood and devastation.
It added, “Considering the fact that Southern Kaduna is one of the areas that has suffered the worst of these atrocious attacks by these terrorist, it beats our imagination that a man like Sen Akume who should, not only be heard but be seen supporting Governor Ortom in his unrelenting and resilient fight against the agenda of supplanting indigenous communities by sponsors of these terror attacks is regrettably not only keeping quiet, but also being used to attack his brother as if he is playing the character of a useful idiot.”
The forum noted that “it is strange that Sen Akume in his press conference was more interested in defending his pay masters than speaking out in defence of the Benue people who are being terrorised, supplanted and their ancestral lands being taken over by the Fulani herdsmen invaders, adding that a typical situation also being faced by the Southern Kaduna people. So, we feel the pain.”
The forum also noted that “the unfortunate call by the former governor on federal authorities to comb and retrieve dane guns, bows and arrows, kitchen knives, among others with which the local communities have often used to defend themselves against the attackers shows directly that Sen Akume supports the genocide and ethnic cleansing being perpetrated against the Benue people and other ethnic nationalities across the Middle Belt and elsewhere in the country.”
“We, the people of Southern Kaduna, being one of the main victims of these terror attacks, vehemently reject and oppose Sen Akume’s position and we hereby declare our solidarity and confidence in Governor Ortom who has taken a decisive stand for his people and the rest of humanity,” the statement explained.
SOKAPU lamented that another issue raised by Akume that Governor Ortom uses provocative language to insult his slave master, regretting that he (Senator Akume) did not realise how he threw away decorum and insulted his own governor for committing no offence, other than standing firm in defence of the Benue people.
SOKAPU said, “It is laughable that Akume would accuse Governor Ortom of establishing Forest Guards as duly provided by a law enacted by the Benue House of Assembly, but chose to ignore the presence of Hisbah in Kano state, for instance, which enforces Sharia practices in line with the wishes of the people of the state. What a double standard of a leader!”
SOKAPU wished that “if every governor remains resolutely committed in providing security and wellbeing of their citizens as Governor Ortom and a few other governors are doing, the present security challenges would have been a thing of the past.”
The forum, therefore, called on President Buhari to heed to the voice of reason by Governor Ortom and other governors that have raised concerns on the present dangers facing the Nigerian state occasioned by the atrocious activities of these Fulani herdsmen invaders.
“The President can redeem his good name by supporting and partnering with state governors and other leaders who have seen existential threats posed by these attackers in order to stave off the imminent disintegration of the country under his watch,” SOKAPU advised.
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