- The Benue Youth Forum has said it will resist any attempt to impose a governor in the state
- The forum was reacting to an endorsement of the APC governorship candidate by Alhaji Garus Gololo
- Gololo had said the endorsement was on behalf of all Fulanis nationwide
The Benue Youth Forum has warned it will resist any attempt to impose a governor in the state during the 2019 general elections.
The forum was reacting to an endorsement of the APC governorship candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime, by Alhaji Garus Gololo.
Gololo had said the endorsement was on behalf of all Fulanis nationwide, boasting that come 2019, they as a group will change the political leadership in Benue for daring to enact a law prohibiting open grazing of livestock in the state.
Speaking a press briefing in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, the president of the forum, Comrade Terrence Kuanum said there is a planned invasion of their ancestral homes in collaboration, “with our vulnerable brothers to attempt to change the leadership in the state.”
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He said: “In as much as we would have loved to stay out of partisan politics, we can't shy away from defending our people when our enemies attempt to kill us, mock us and cripple our economy rendering over 500,000 homeless and the enemies have the guts to boast that they will install a governor of their choice in this state so that the evil they plan against our people will come to pass.
“We also frown at the response that came from the APC in Benue state. We had expected the party to compel Mallam Gololo to denounce the statement credited to him or have him sued to court.
“On the contrary, the Jime campaign team chose to politicise their response and took to blame games which, by our assessment, rather made them complicit.
“We wish to state categorically clear that we as a forum will not hesitate at any point to defend our people. Benue is our state and we have nowhere else to go.
“We maintain that Benue people must be allowed to willingly choose their leaders in 2019 general election. Our people must not be intimidated or coerced into accepting a governorship candidate imposed on them by enemies of the state. We will resist any form of imposition or plot to cause political instability in Benue state.
“We will resist with equal vigour, any attempt to influence next year's elections to favour one political party in Benue state.
“For Garus Gololo and his sponsors in Abuja, their plan to change the political leadership in Benue in 2019 too will fail just like the plan of taking over our land also failed. This is our ancestral land given to us by God and they can't have it for whatever reason.”
The forum stated that Governor Samuel Ortom had stood firmly with his people in ensuring that security is provided by the Federal Government, adding that he deserves to be commended not betrayed.
The group further commended the governor, “for the courage he has demonstrated in defending our people and we assure him of our esteemed support.”
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Meanwhile, Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, October 11, received the report of the judicial commission of inquiry into civil disturbances in Dekina, Omala and Bassa local government areas, vowing that his administration will bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
Receiving the report from the chairman of the commission, Justice Josiah Majebi, the governor promised to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents of the state adding that his administration would not play politics with the lives of the people.
The governor emphasized that he is ready to hunt and bring to book those responsible for the mayhem.
Benue Elders Speak on Herdsmen Attacks | Naij.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
