By Mathias Iyaha

2023 governorship aspirant in Benue State, Mr Terver Akase says the Muhammadu Buhari administration has abandoned the people of the state to be slaughtered like animals by Fulani herders.

Mr Akase who spoke to journalists today in Makurdi wondered why the Presidency is quick to sympathize with other states affected by violence but has not issued even a single statement to sympathize with the government and people of Benue State following coordinated attacks by herdsmen in Guma, Logo and Tarka which led to the killing of 24 innocent persons, a few days ago.

“Just this morning, we read a statement from the presidency sympathizing with the people of Plateau State, which is the right thing to do. We also sympathize with the people of Plateau State. But we are shocked that two days after coordinated attacks took place in Benue, affecting Guma, Logo and Tarka local government areas, the presidency has not deemed it necessary to sympathize with the people of Benue State, and we are wondering; is Benue no longer part of this country? Why has the Federal Government chosen to abandon the people of the state?”

He described the silence of the Presidency over the killings in Benue as betrayal of the people’s trust and votes which brought President Buhari to power in 2015 and retained him in 2019.

“Mr President owes us an explanation. Benue voted for him in 2015 and 2019. That means Benue people love Mr President. Our people deserve to be protected too, and if anything is happening here and the Federal Government looks the other way then we feel like orphans.”

The former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor urged the Presidency to refrain from treating Benue like a people who are only useful during elections, stressing that the state also deserves to be protected and assisted to rise from the ruins of sustained herders attacks, the same way the North East is being assisted to overcome the damage done by Boko Haram.

Mr Akase said it amounted to deceit and insincerity, the promise the Federal Government made since May 2018 through the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo that it would release N10 billion for the resentment of displaced people in Benue and other affected states.

He commended Governor Samuel Ortom for his tireless efforts to end the attacks on his people, describing the Governor as a leader who stands for equity, truth and justice.

Mr Akase consoled families of the attacks in Tarka, Logo and Guma, praying to God to grant their loved ones eternal rest.