Dino Melaye Responds To Ortom Linking Herders Killings To Atiku

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council Spokesman, Dino Melaye has accused Benue Governor Samuel Ortom as being unfair for blaming Atiku Abubakar for crimes committed by herders.

Melaye made the statement on Tuesday in an  interview on Arise TV.

​​​​​​On Sunday, Ortom said he would not support Atiku’s presidential bid.

He lamented the killing of 18 persons in his council area last Friday where a young man in his 20s had his eyes removed to send a message to him (Ortom).

“To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him.

"You want me to be slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.

“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.”

Reacting to Ortom’s comment on Tuesday, Melaye said, “Everybody has the right to support any presidential candidate of their choice. 

"But it is unfair for Governor Ortom to put the blame of criminalities of Fulani herders going on in Benue State on the lap of our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar."

Melaye, who said he also condemns the attacks and killing of people in Benue emphasised that it has nothing to do with Atiku.

He noted that former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Umar Yar’Adua were both from the Fulani race and they had Benue indigenes in their respective governments.

The former Kogi Senator said there were good Muslims and Christians among the Fulani, hence not all Fulani are evil.