I Don’t Hate Fulani – Ortom Breaks Silence, Reveals Why He Took On Buhari

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has clarified that he never harbored hatred for the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Ortom explained that his criticisms of Buhari’s administration were solely based on its failure to adequately tackle the security crises plaguing Benue during his tenure.

Emphasizing that he holds no animosity toward the Fulani ethnic group, Ortom stated he was simply fulfilling his duty as an elected leader to protect his people.

“I never hated Buhari, his administration, or any Fulani individual,” Ortom said. “My duty was to ensure the safety and welfare of my people. I spoke out because the government was not doing enough to address the security issues we faced.”

He stressed that remaining silent while lives were being lost was not an option, saying his administration even proposed a solution they believed could end the violence.

Ortom blamed the ongoing insecurity in Benue on the lack of cooperation from Buhari’s government, arguing that had they embraced his proposed approach, the crisis could have been resolved.

He also rejected the notion of a herders-farmers conflict in Nigeria, claiming instead that armed herders were invading communities—killing residents, destroying farmlands, raping women, and committing other heinous acts.