The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has explained why he would not be supporting the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
Ortom said he would not support any candidate that saw nothing wrong in the killing of Benue people by armed Fulani herdsmen.
The Benue governor spoke when he played host to other members of the G-5 governors at a State Banquet in Makurdi.
Members of the G-5 include Samuel Ortom (Benue), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
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Ortom said that in a dastardly attack on Guma local government area of the state by armed herdsmen, 18 persons were killed and a young man in his 20s had his eyes plucked out and another had his hand chopped off by armed herdsmen.
The Benue governor said he would never allow the nefarious activities of armed Fulani herdsmen to go unchecked in the state.
“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet; you want me to be slave to a Fulani? It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku in Benue is an enemy of the state.
“Some are threatening; My tenure ends in May and you can do whatever you want if you think you have the powers. I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night. If I die at 62 it will not be new.
“Many of my mates have gone long time ago and If I die today, I will be fulfilled but let it be on record that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.
“I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him,” Ortom said.