Prove I Am A Terrorist, Mohammed Challenges Ortom

Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has challenged his Benue
counterpart Samuel Ortom to substantiate claim he is sponsoring
terrorism.

Ortom had alleged Mohammed is a terrorist, sponsoring
herdsmen.

He also alleged he had received a death threat from herdsmen,
saying Mohammed should be held responsible if anything happens to
him.

But in a statement on Wednesday night by his Senior Special
Assistant on Media Mukhtar Gidado, Mohammed asked Ortom to provide
evidence for his allegations.

The statement partly reads: ” In our resolve to deescalate the
tension that has gripped the country over the sacking of Fulani
herdsman from Ondo State, we had resolved not to join issues with
any other person over the position of His Excellency, Governor Bala
Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, on the issue.

”However, while standing on that resolve, it will be
irresponsible of us to ignore two unfortunate claims made by the
Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, at a press conference last
Monday. During the conference, Governor Ortom alleged, among other
things, that:

”Governor Bala Mohammed is a terrorist, sponsoring those he
described as Fulani terrorist herdsmen.”

”And he, Governor Ortom, had received a letter from Fulani
herdsmen to the effect that they were going to kill him (Governor
Ortom) and that Governor Bala Mohammed should be held responsible
if he (Governor Ortom) dies”

”We are therefore shocked that Governor Ortom could, in good
conscience, address a fellow Governor whom, he had described as a
brother, as a terrorist and who should, to wit, be placed under
watch should anything untoward happen to him (Ortom).

“We want to state that Governor Ortom has carried the
unfortunate theatrics, for which he is well known, to a very
precipitous level of brinkmanship.

”As a journalist and democrat, Governor Bala Mohammed, concedes
to Governor Ortom the right to reply. However, through his
unfounded and grave allegations, the Benue State Governor has
over-personalised the matter, thereby reducing the debate to a
level of toxicity that is neither healthy for the country nor
helpful to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

”One of the main attractions of democracy is the freedom of
speech which we relish very much in this country. That is why
anybody can rise and make any allegation as they choose. However,
as the legal dictum goes, he who alleges must prove.

“ So, if Governor Ortom is not playing to the gallery, we
challenge him to substantiate his claim that Governor Bala Mohammed
is in cahoots with anybody to kill the Benue State Governor.’’

Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has challenged his Benue
counterpart Samuel Ortom to substantiate claim he is sponsoring
terrorism.

Ortom had alleged Mohammed is a terrorist, sponsoring
herdsmen.

He also alleged he had received a death threat from herdsmen,
saying Mohammed should be held responsible if anything happens to
him.

But in a statement on Wednesday night by his Senior Special
Assistant on Media Mukhtar Gidado, Mohammed asked Ortom to provide
evidence for his allegations.

The statement partly reads: ” In our resolve to deescalate the
tension that has gripped the country over the sacking of Fulani
herdsman from Ondo State, we had resolved not to join issues with
any other person over the position of His Excellency, Governor Bala
Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, on the issue.

”However, while standing on that resolve, it will be
irresponsible of us to ignore two unfortunate claims made by the
Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, at a press conference last
Monday. During the conference, Governor Ortom alleged, among other
things, that:

”Governor Bala Mohammed is a terrorist, sponsoring those he
described as Fulani terrorist herdsmen.”

”And he, Governor Ortom, had received a letter from Fulani
herdsmen to the effect that they were going to kill him (Governor
Ortom) and that Governor Bala Mohammed should be held responsible
if he (Governor Ortom) dies”

”We are therefore shocked that Governor Ortom could, in good
conscience, address a fellow Governor whom, he had described as a
brother, as a terrorist and who should, to wit, be placed under
watch should anything untoward happen to him (Ortom).

“We want to state that Governor Ortom has carried the
unfortunate theatrics, for which he is well known, to a very
precipitous level of brinkmanship.

”As a journalist and democrat, Governor Bala Mohammed, concedes
to Governor Ortom the right to reply. However, through his
unfounded and grave allegations, the Benue State Governor has
over-personalised the matter, thereby reducing the debate to a
level of toxicity that is neither healthy for the country nor
helpful to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

”One of the main attractions of democracy is the freedom of
speech which we relish very much in this country. That is why
anybody can rise and make any allegation as they choose. However,
as the legal dictum goes, he who alleges must prove.

“ So, if Governor Ortom is not playing to the gallery, we
challenge him to substantiate his claim that Governor Bala Mohammed
is in cahoots with anybody to kill the Benue State Governor.’’