Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom, Terver Akase, said if the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku, wants the votes of Benue people, he should apologise for his unfortunate empathy message over the killings in Gbeji.
Akase made this statement while featuring as a guest on The Runup, a PlusTv programme where he discussed the topic, “The Fate of PDP in Benue and Beyond.”
The Special Adviser said Atiku’s message where he described the killings at Gbeji in Logo local government as an intercommunal crisis and called for the integration of the marauding Fulani herdsmen into the affected community where they do not live, is too biased to have come from one who intends to govern a country with a diverse ethnicity like Nigeria.
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He stated that the Benue people are dissatisfied with his statement and that if he truly wants the trust and vote of the Benue people, he should apologize, visit Gbeji, where the killings occurred, and IDPs to demonstrate his genuine concern for them.
Also, Akase said Atiku’s statement is scary and does not demonstrate the quality of one who will protect the interests of the Benue people should he become president. As a result, he urged him to live up to the pan-Nigeria and unifier status he claims.
Meanwhile, Akase stated that Atiku disrespected the office of the Governor of Benue State for constituting his campaign council from the state without consulting Governor Samuel Ortom, who is the leader of the party in the State. He said Atiku may choose to be angry with the Governor as person, but he should have had respect for the office.
