Ortom’s SA, others disown kinsmen who sued FG over Herdsmen attacks

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By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Isa Usman has described the filing of a suit against the Federal Government as an unnecessary distraction that would only hinder the progress of Agatu land.
In a statement made available to newsmen, which he issued on Behalf of Agatu, he said major genuine stakeholders from Agatu agree with him that those that filed the suit have no locus standing in issues affecting the area as only one is a confirmed indigene.
 
“Our attention have been drawn to a publication widely circulated on social media and some national dailies, titled; ‘Fulani/Agatu Crisis; Agatu sues Federal Government to Court’. It is highly regrettable, very unfortunate and totally unacceptable for unknown faces to come up with such major decision without consulting critical stakeholders of Agatu before taking such decision. The most painful aspect is the one that those involved in the suit against Federal Government claimed to be representatives of the good people of Agatu when they are not,” the statement said.
It went on to state that  Agatu people, despite the unfortunate incidence which rendered many villages homeless, are satisfied and remain grateful to both the state  and federal government for their contributions which include; donation of relief materials, provision of security in the affected areas, medical support among others.
The statement which was personally signed by the SA himself, further explained that at the moment, work on Loko-Oweto Bridge is on-going, Otukpo-Oweto Road is also on-going and they are all federal government projects.
 
“Also worthy of note is the plan by Federal Government to establish Army Barracks at Okokolo in Agatu Local Government to put an end to the incessant crisis between Fulani Herdsmen and Agatu.
“Constructions of Oshigbudu-Obagaji road as well as electrification project in Agatu are on-going as approved by our amiable governor, Samuel Ortom. Again, 46 Construction/Renovation of Primary Schools in Agatu are currently on-going as approved by His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom which was awarded by SUBEB.
 
“Also Garri Processing Industry has been established in Agatu by Ortom’s Administration,” the statement said.
 
It emphasized that: “As soon as the news of the suit against Federal Government by purported ‘Agatu representatives’ was heard, major stakeholders in Agatu, such as my humble self, Alh. Isa Usman the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Cpt. Joshua Imanche, the former caretaker chairman of Agatu, Hon. Joseph Ngbede, elder statesman, Gen. Sani Ehoda, Rt. Hon. Solomon Agidani, Hon. Mrs. Owakoyi Eghiaruwa, Rt. Hon. Audu Sule, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Ochepo, Hon. John Ngbede, Hon. Momoh Audu, Hon. Michael Inalegwu, Hon. Simon Adah Egahi, Hon. Michael Obiabo, the Ad’Agatu, Chief Godwin Ngbede Onah and his twenty two chiefs in Agatu, the immediate past State Director of Publicity APC, Hon. John Ikwulono, Barr. John Idakwo, Chief Andrew Idakwo, Sule Adanu, Hon. Emmanuel Ogwola, Chris Enenche, Chief D.E. Imanche, Ada Idoko among many others were contacted on the matter and they were all bitter that those behind the matter are not just mischief makers who are out to sabotage government’s efforts towards Agatu people, but they have also looked down on Agatu Stakeholders.”
It explained that they would have ignored it, but decided to issue a statement to publicly disown the said persons who filed the suit against Federal Government and to add here that they have done that for their own personal interests.
 
“However, we equally give 24 hours to those concerned to withdraw the case from court immediately or face the law. Let me also warn in a very strong terms here, that those who want to use the Fulani/Agatu crisis to enrich themselves should desist from that or face the wrath of Agatu people who are yet to recover from the shock of that crisis.
“In our investigations, the six persons involved in filing the case hailed from other local government areas exception of one Alidu Adaikwu from Ogwule, who equally confessed that his signature was forged after the group hinted him of their intentions to take the matter to court.
 
“The other five persons; Danjuma Olotu, Chief Moru Akwuchi, Yunusa Sale, Yahaya Momoh and Maikasuwa Ahmed Ejima Egah are neither indigenes nor stakeholders of Agatu and have no right or locus standi to take up serious issue as this with Federal Government whose prompt response has been able to forestall peace in Agatu currently.
“We call on the general public to disregard the purported suit against Federal Government. The suit is dead on arrival. We will file a counter-case in ECOWAS Court.”

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