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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
A group called Benue Youth Forum, (BYF), has lauded Governor Samuel Ortom over his endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), Mr. Peter Obi with a pledge to stand by him.
President Of Benue Youth Forum, Terrence Kuanum, stated this as part of resolution reach after a Town Hall Meeting of the group In Makurdi, on Monday.
He told newsmen that “BYF is solidly behind Governor Samuel Ortom’s endorsement of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, for the presidential election as only Mr Obi is disposed to tackling the plethora of challenges facing the country and Benue in particular.
“We reiterate our support for Peter Obi’s candidature and make it bold to say we are going out in our numbers come Saturday, February 25 to cast our votes for him to give him the well-deserved mandate to drag Nigeria out of the abyss.”
They noted that within the last eight years, Benue people are facing threats of going into extinction due to the heinous activities of sponsored and well-protected herdmen terrorists who are bent on eliminating us and annexing Benue ancestral lands.
“Those in authority, especially at the centre, have tagged us alarmists and rabble-rousers because of our insistence on ensuring that our people are allowed to stay in their ancestral homes and do their farming and other activities without any fear.
“Sadly, the attacks have not abated as the militia who have sworn not to obey the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue state are constantly on rampage, killing villagers in their sleep and attacking even those in internally displaced persons, IDPs camps.”
The group’s president urge the people of Benue to shun the other presidential candidates, especially Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who has on different occasions, justified the killings in Benue as he has no intention of putting an end to the incessant massacre of the people if elected.
The group also calls on Benue people to vote Governor Ortom for the Benue North-West senatorial seat as well as other PDP candidates in the national assembly elections adding that “the electorates must beware of those who are romancing with enemies of the state and show their anger at the ballot by voting only those who are interested in the security and welfare of the people.”
“We also advise the people to shun those who have promised to cede our ancestral lands to Fulani herders and vote Rt. Honourable Titus Uba of the PDP in the Governorship election and other candidates of the party for the House of Assembly polls come March 11, 2023.
“There is no doubt that this election is about the survival of our people and the future of the country. We cannot fold our arms and watch our people being misled into making mistakes that shall cost us more years of anguish.
“That is why we expect all to queue behind Governor Ortom who has seen the light and is leading the state to the path where our penury shall be over.”
While urging all Benue People to go out and exercise their franchise responsibly without fear of molestation, BYF called on the political class to avoid any attempt at using the youth for violence as that would not be in the best interests of the system and peaceful elections.
