The Benue Youth Forum, BYF, says it will resist plans by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to buy votes in the state in the presidential general elections.
Group said Atiku has never been a friend to the state for failing to comfort the people of the state in their times of trouble such as the killings of farmers by Fulani herdsmen.
In a statement signed by its president, Terrence Kuanum, the described Benue sons and daughters planning to buy votes for Atiku in the state as true enemies of the state.
The statement reads: “The Benue Youth Forum, BYF gathers on good authority that some Benue sons and daughters have presented themselves to be used by the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar to lure some gullible and unsuspecting Benue people to vote for him against their wishes.
“The BYF is aware that Alhaji Atiku who has always looked the other way while his kinsmen unleash terror on Benue people is now distributing money to some sellouts to help him get the votes of the people.
“We had demanded a public apology from Atiku for his failure to condemn the dastardly acts of Fulani herdsmen in Benue and a commitment that he would prioritise the security of lives and property of Benue people if elected. But he has refused to heed our advice, meaning he care less about the massacre in the Benue Valley and is not willing to end it even if he becomes the president.
“The BYF therefore feels that those who are queuing behind Atiku in spite of his nonchalance towards the ethnic cleansing in the state by his kinsmen are truly the real enemies of Benue and its law abiding people.
“We however, call on those who have made themselves available to be used to deceive the people into voting Atiku to have a rethink or risk being judged now and in the future as the enemies within who are out to sell their people for a pot of porridge.
“The Benue Youth Forum also cautions the citizens against accepting the poisoned chalice being presented to them as peanuts by those traitors to cajole them into going astray as collecting money from those not interested in their security is tantamount to mortgaging their own blood and those of their kinsmen who have been slained by Fulani terrorists.
Read Also: Manifesto Theft: Tender apology to Akase or we meet in court, group tells Alia
“The BYF also stresses the need for the people to blacklist all those who come to them with cursed money to buy their conscience and talk them into signing their death warrants in the name of voting a man who sees nothing wrong with the incessant invasion of Benue communities and killing the dwellers by armed Fulani militia.
“We commend Govenor Samuel Ortom for standing firm in defence of the people and reiterate our call on the people to stand by the governor on his resolve to ensure that justice, equity and fairness are the watchwords in handling national issues, especially those that affect Benue people.
“BYF equally wants Benue people, particularly those from the North-West Senatorial district to give Governor Ortom the mandate to serve them in the Senate as he has proven to be the voice of the voiceless and the conscience of the nation.”
