Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has on outrightly denied any hatred toward late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, his administration, or the Fulani people July 21, 2025.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Ortom clarified that his criticism of Buhari’s government stemmed solely from frustration over inadequate security interventions in Benue State.
Speaking Out for His People, Not Against Buhari Personally
Ortom emphasized that his actions were driven by his constitutional duty to safeguard his constituents from escalating violence.
“I didn’t hate Buhari, I didn’t hate his government, I didn’t hate any Fulani man,” Ortom declared.
His real concern, he explained, was providing security and welfare for his people amid relentless attacks.
The former governor stressed, “I was just doing my job.
I accused the last government for not doing enough to curb the security challenges that we faced allowing Fulanis to invade our land, kill and scare away our people.”
Ortom recalled the anguish of burying victims while feeling helpless.
“I couldn’t just watch and continue to bury people without speaking out,” he stated.
Yet, he insisted his government also worked on solutions they believed could address the insecurity, which unfortunately remained unadopted by the federal authorities.
A Blunt Accusation: Federal Government’s Failure Prolonged Benue’s Crisis
Ortom squarely blamed the Buhari administration for the persistence of successive attacks on Benue State.
He argued that if only the federal government had cooperated with and implemented his proposed security framework, the crisis might have ended by now.
His frustration extended beyond mere inaction.
He dismissed government programs like RUGA as mere “camouflage” tactics that failed to confront the root causes.
“I raised the alarm repeatedly because we were being ignored,” he said.
Redefining the “Herders-Farmers” Narrative
Challenging popular discourse, Ortom contested the widely used term “herders-farmers crisis.”
Instead, he accused the intruding Fulani herdsmen of orchestrating targeted acts of violence not simple resource clashes.
“The herders come to kill, destroy farms, rape women, and commit atrocities,” he asserted bluntly.
This stance sparked controversy, as many critics argue such rhetoric fuels ethnic tensions.
Nonetheless, Ortom insists it reflects the brutal reality on the ground in Benue.
Ortom’s History of Clashing with Buhari’s Administration
Ortom’s tense relationship with Buhari’s government is not new.
Over the years, he repeatedly accused the late president of favoring Fulani interests to the detriment of other ethnic groups.
He once famously accused Buhari of acting as “the president of the Fulani people” rather than all Nigerians.
Publicly, Ortom has decried what he calls “state-sanctioned neglect” and has challenged the presidency over perceived complicity in the herdsmen’s attacks.
His bold stance made him a polarizing figure within Nigerian politics.
Calls for Accountability Go Unanswered
Despite Ortom’s vocal appeals, the Buhari administration rarely responded decisively or visited Benue during the worst of the violence.
Security lapses persisted, and the federal government’s reluctance to act exacerbated local anger.
Ortom has lamented that terrorism, previously known only in distant countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, has gained a foothold in Nigeria with seeming presidential indifference.
The Political Toll: Ortom’s Defiance and Its Fallout
Ortom’s outspoken criticism placed him at odds with powerful interests in Abuja.
Nevertheless, he maintains no regret for holding the federal government accountable.
“I had to cry out for my people’s lives,” he stated.
The former governor also rejected narratives painting the crisis as a mere “ethnic clash,” instead framing it as a systemic failure by federal authorities.
The Ugly Truth About Nigeria’s Security Crisis
Through Ortom’s testimony, a disturbing picture emerges.
Government inaction, alleged political favoritism, and failure to protect citizens have perpetuated insecurity in central Nigeria.
Innocent lives remain at the mercy of violent herdsmen, while ethnic grievances deepen.
Can a federal government that appears partial restore peace and justice for millions?
