Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, on Monday accused Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom of spreading falsehood.
The presidential spokesman challenged Ortom to identify the army personnel who told him President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Nigerian troops not to attack Fulani herdsmen responsible for causing violence in his state.
Shehu, in a statement released via his social media platform, described Governor Ortom’s claim as untrue and a statement made to gain political scores.
Shehu further berated the governor for allegedly sowing the seeds of hatred amongst Nigerians ahead of the 2023 general elections.
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His statement reads: “In a recent interview, the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, claimed that high-ranking security personnel had informed him personally that President Buhari had ordered security forces not to move against the Fulani herdsmen responsible for recent violence.
“These ridiculous claims are patently untrue. If he is as brave as he claims to be, let him name names. Let him name the military personnel who told him this story or forever shut up.
“It is disappointing that Ortom, who in the same interview describes himself as a child of God who believes in being lawful and respects the Nigerian constitution, felt the need to spread such a divisive lie.
“In a period of heightened insecurity, our politicians should be working to bring us closer together, not risking further violence by dishonestly seeking to further divide us along ethnic or religious lines.
“Fortunately, the cheap, dog whistle politics behind Ortom’s falsehood are plain for all to see. He is not the first opportunistic politician who has attempted to sow discord amongst his country’s people in the run-up to an election; sadly, he will not be the last.”
“The Nigerian people will see him for what he is: an opportunist flaunting his wares as the country prepares to elect its next president; a man fond of posing in military fatigue who expects the country to believe Nigeria’s top security personnel would share high-level confidential information with him. To be clear: they do not,” he added.