Ortom replies El-Rufai, says he’s misleading Buhari

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has accused his Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir el-Rufai, as one of the real enemies of Nigeria misleading President Muhammadu Buhari.

He described El-Rufai as a sycophant and an ethnic champion who hated anyone who did not share the same faith with him.

He made the scathing remarks in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, in reaction to a statement credited to the Kaduna governor who alleged that Ortom was attacking the Federal Government over insecurity in his state to cover up his failures.

The Kaduna governor made the statement while responding to a video showing Ortom addressing protesters after some killings in Benue State.

The video was played during a webinar organised by the Africa Leadership Group.

In his response, Governor Ortom was reported in the statement as saying, “We read the statement credited to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, in which he accused Governor Samuel Ortom of using the insecurity in his state to attack the Federal Government in order to cover up what he termed as the Benue State governor’s failure.

“We want to believe that El-Rufai was wrongly quoted. A man who has failed in several aspects as Governor of Kaduna has no moral justification to accuse another governor.

“A governor who chose a Muslim deputy in a state where Christians have a huge population is certainly not one to preach unity and peaceful co-existence.

“El-Rufai’s attack on Governor Ortom is merely to make him look good before the Presidency. He has apparently fallen out of favour at the Villa and wants to use Governor Ortom as a launch pad back to reckoning.

“How has he handled his own problems in Kaduna? This is a man who has insulted almost every prominent Nigerian including the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and former President Olusegun Obasanjo; a man who is his former boss and one who brought him to the limelight.

“Nigerians have not forgotten the unprintable things El-Rufai said during Goodluck Jonathan’s time as President. He insulted the then President. His statements on the abduction of Chibok girls and several other acts of terrorism are still fresh in our minds. El-Rufai is on record to have said repeatedly that Fulani people must retaliate for any wrong done to them no matter how long it takes.

“Is Governor Ortom responsible for El-Rufai’s inability to ensure peace in Kaduna State where bandits have taken over some communities while kidnappings and killings occur on a daily basis? This is why he wants men of good conscience like Governor Ortom to be silent to pave way for the conquest and expansion agenda to succeed.”

He insisted that the Kaduna State governor had no moral right to advise him, adding, “Nasir el-Rufai is among the very few persons who have misled President Muhammadu Buhari. El-Rufai is one of the real enemies of this country who do not hide their divisive tendencies by elevating nepotism and ethnicity above the good values that have held Nigeria together over the decades.

“Nasir el-Rufai doesn’t possess the credentials to counsel anyone on payment of salaries and the welfare of workers. This is a governor who recently sacked 4,000 workers for no just cause.” Ortom urged the Kaduna State governor to focus on addressing the numerous problems in his state and allow him to lead Benue in peace.