Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has accused Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, of contributing to the rift between the South West Governors and the Fulani-herdsmen.

Governor Bala said the Benue Governor is the worst manager in the Fulani security matter, adding that his (Ortom’s) unconstructive criticisms are bringing a lot of hatred among Nigerians.

Bala Mohammed, on Thursday, disclosed this allegation while addressing the theme: “The role of the Media in Promoting Peace and Unity in Nigeria” at the closing ceremony of the 2021 Correspondents’ Chapel of the Bauchi State NUJ, Press Week, held at the Command Guest House, Bauchi.

He, however, cautioned Samuel Ortom and some other Governors especially from the Southern parts of the country to guard against utterances and policies that are threatening to the peace and unity of the country

 He further said that that Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom’s lack of foresight has triggered the current negative perception of Fulani herders across the country, adding that Fulani herders were forced to carry AK47 and other guns in order to protect themselves from rustlers.

“They (the Fulanis) are forced to defend themselves as they have no option than to carry AK47 because the society and the government are not protecting them,” he stated.

He stressed that “sometimes we are quick to go to the press on issues that are dividing us.

“You have seen what our colleagues in the South-West are doing and some of them from the South– East too are doing same. We have told them with all modesty that they are wrong. But the person that is most wrong is the Governor of Benue State, my brother and my colleague, Governor Samuel Ortom.

“He started all these. If you don’t accommodate other tribes, there will be challenges because we also accommodate other tribes in Bauchi and other places. We have many Tiv people farming in Alkaleri, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro in Bauchi State.

“Has anybody told them to go? No, because they have inalienable rights to be here. We have people living in Bauchi for over 150 years, even before the birth of Nigeria, nobody is talking to them to go and some of them have risen to become Permanent Secretaries in government in Bauchi, Borno and so on.”

Bala Mohammed, however, lamented that pastoralists in the country, particularly Fulani were being maligned even though most of them have become victims of cattle rustlers who have dispossessed them of their commonwealth.

He also called on Journalists to be cautious in their reportage and exercise restraint and avoid takings sides in the issues of herders-farmers clashes to safeguard the unity and peace of the country.

He said that “Something that is so bad and can destroy us, something that is threatening the peace and unity of the country, we must not toy with it. In this regard, I must commend the Governor of Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong for promoting the peace of the country.”

The Governor opined that “Despite Simon Lalong’s minority’s background, he is focused and unity driven. We need people like Lalong because the fights between herders and farmers in Plateau State has stopped because of justice and equity,  patriotism and community, engagement and fostering understanding between the diverse ethnic groups and that is what we are doing in Bauchi. Everybody is important and so the media must make sure they promote unity and peace of the country.”

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Malam Ahmed Mohammed, cautioned journalists against misusing their constitutional power to promote disunity and disaffection among Nigerians.

“I want to yet again appeal to my dear colleagues to be cautious in their reportage. One wrongly-worded headline can spark a fire that may burn down the entire nation or cause irreparable damages to the society or the person(s) affected. One of us may feel that he can retract a story, but news stories are like oil. You can attempt to wipe the spill but you may never get it all back,” Ahmed Mohammed said.

State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Umar Sa’id commended the Governor for his friendly posture towards working with Journalists in the state assuring him that as they discharge their professional functions, Journalists in the state will remain fair and objective.