The Forum of Concerned Nigerians says the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu and the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar are ungrateful to Benue State as they abandoned victims of herdsmen attacks in the State.
The National Secretary, Forum of Concerned Nigerians, FCN, Samson Ochono in a statement said days after the duo have not sent condolences nor visit the victims.
He urged Benue people to reject at the polls whoever does not care about then.
The statement reads: “National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu is from Benue State. Former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar holds one of the biggest chieftaincy titles in Tiv land where Fulani herders some days ago wrecked havoc in Gbeji community of Ukum local government area killing about 50 people, injuring others with hundreds displaced.
“About four days after the unfortunate incident, neither Ayu nor Atiku have deemed it necessary to visit the area or send sympathies to families of the victims. As far as they are concerned, canvassing for votes ahead of the 2023 elections is more important than the lives lost in Benue State.
“Ayu is one of the very few Benue sons who have benefited the most from the state. He rose to become President of the Senate, Minister on many occasions and now he is the National Chairman of one of the two leading political parties in the country. Ayu got all those high positions on the ticket of Benue State. Yet, Ayu has not bothered to return any of the favours the state has done him.
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“In 2019, Benue State was the only state in North Central Nigeria where Atiku was able to defeat Buhari. It is on record that Governor Samuel Ortom mobilized massive support for the PDP presidential flag bearer to beat Buhari of APC in that year’s election. Yet, the “Zege Mule u Tiv” has not visited the state even once to say ‘thank you’ to the people. Nearly 2 million Benue people have been displaced as a result of herdsmen attacks, while others have been displaced on account of the ravaging flooding, but the man Atiku is not moved. For him, all that matters is his votes.
“But who will vote for Atiku in 2023 if all Benue people are killed before the elections? He has shown disdain towards the people of the state. He accuses the Governor of the state and his people of profiling Fulani. For him, the lives of cows are more important than the lives of human beings. Atiku has found a willing ally in Ayu who also says that Fulani are unfairly being profiled by Governor Ortom.
“Ayu now speaks Hausa more than Atiku who is a core northerner. He does so to impress the caliphate. Remember that shortly after the PDP presidential primaries, Ayu visited Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and congratulated him as “the hero of the convention”. What an insult to other presidential aspirants of the party! Such insensitivity should not have come from a man who spent his days in the university criticizing leaders before him.
“Ayu ought to have honorably resigned as soon as that shameful video of him at Tambuwal’s house went viral. He lost the trust of every other PDP member and other Nigerians. A man who took sides with one of the aspirants in a keenly contested presidential primary election lacks the integrity to preside over affairs of the party.
“Now back to the Benue attack victims. Yesterday, Governor Samuel Ortom who is unavoidably not in the state at the moment, sent Secretary to the State Government to accompany Senator Gabriel Suswam to visit Gbeji and see the extent of the attack and the damage done. The pictures which we saw online from the scenes of the sad incident should have disturbed the PDP National Chairman to at least send condolences to the people. Even Peter Obi who has no direct links with Benue State traveled to Makurdi to visit internally displaced persons camps to see victims of herders attacks and those of floods. But Ayu has done none of that. He and Atiku hop onto the next available flight to Dubai for pleasure at every slight opportunity. How they hope to win the hearts of Nigerians to vote for them next year beats our imagination.
“Iyorchia Ayu has failed Benue State. He has been tested for many years and found wanting. He can’t point at any one he has mentored and helped to climb the leadership ladder. The current position he holds is his last opportunity to redeem himself; but so far, he has proven that a leopard can only travel long distances but can’t change its spots.
“Ayu and Atiku must be rejected by Benue people!”
