The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) encouraged Governors Samuel Ortom and Bala Mohammed of Benue and Bauchi states respectively to resolve their differences so that the “inefficiency” of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government does not rub off on the PDP-controlled states.
According to a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike stated this Tuesday in Port Harcourt, when he and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri mediated between Ortom and Mohammed and the feud between the duo was resolved.
Earlier, briefing journalists at the meeting which held at Governor Wike’s private residence at Rumuepirikom, the Bauchi governor said that the outburst between him and his Benue state counterpart over herders/Fulani profiling was highly regrettable.
“We didn’t mean to divide the country, to divide our people. We are still friends and brothers and we will move forward because most of those issues are fully resolved.
“I want to seize this opportunity to tell Nigerians that whatever misconception that is there, that me and my brother Ortom are having problem or anybody in Nigeria, is not true. What happened was just an explanation that emanated from a larger Governors’ Forum that we spoke on the security of the nation and we talked of the failure of security infrastructure which everybody knows is under the purview of the federal government.”
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Similarly, Ortom appreciated Wike and Fintiri for arranging the meeting.
“We have accepted that it was wrong for us to have that kind of outburst that went out, but as from today we have learnt. We are all fallible human beings and we are subject to mistakes and so when we make mistakes, it is a plus for us if we correct them. And I think moving forward, we shall live together. The Fulani and Tiv people have cohabitated for a long time and there is no issue whatsoever.”
Ortom identified the failure of the security architecture of the country under the Federal Government for the recent feud.
“We look forward that the Federal Government should stoop down to conquer by accepting that, yes, they have failed, so that together the State and the local government can come together to find a way of finding a lasting solution to this country.
“As at today, there is no equity, there is no fairness, there is no justice in our country and that is why everywhere in Nigeria there are issues. So, we look forward that the Federal Government will partner with us. This time we need not to talk about partisan politics. We must come together. We need not to talk about ethnicity or religion. We must come together as brothers and sisters who have no other country than Nigeria, to work together towards a common cause that will solve the problem that we have.”
Also speaking, Wike thanked the governors of Bauchi and Benue states for amicably resolving their dispute.
“We give God the glory today that those difference have been sorted out. We are members of one political party. Like what the Governor of Bauchi and Governor of Benue said, we don’t want the inefficiency, we don’t want the incapacity of the Federal Government in handling the issue of insecurity in the country to rub on us.
“Everybody knows that the Federal Government has failed in providing security for this country. And of course you will not blame them. They (Ortom and Mohammed) are under pressure from their various states. It is not as if they have any personal issue.”
Governor Wike observed that the All Progressives Congress was rejoicing that there was a disagreement between the Governors of Benue and Bauchi States, but noted that the opposition party would be disillusioned now that the disagreement has been resolved.
“They will not be happy today that two of them have now made up to work together. “
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