Fani-Kayode defends Gov Mohammed against Ortom’s ‘vernom’

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode on Monday night called out Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State for referring to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed as part of the Fulani terrorists that are terrorising the country.

Ripples Nigeria reported that Ortom had said he was beginning to think that Mohammed, a fellow governor elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is one of the Fulani terrorists because of the way he has defended Fulani herdsmen and accused him, Ortom of criminalizing the entire Fulani race in the country.

Fani-Kayode, however in a series of tweets on Monday night, defended Mohammed, saying he is not a terrorist Governor, adding that he knows at least two governors who are terrorists.

Fani-Kayode tweeted: “We must choose our battles wisely and know who our real enemies are. I have disagreed with my friend and brother, Gov. Bala Mohammed, on several occasions over the years and I do not share his views on a number of issues but to describe him as a terrorist is uncharitable and absurd.

“This is a man who stands up for Southerners, Middle Belters and Christians as much as he stands up for Northern Muslims. It is fair to say that had it not been for his efforts President Goodluck Jonathan may not have become President after President Yar’Adua died.

Read also: Fani-Kayode lambasts Senate President Lawan over comments on ethnic crisis

“His role in the Senate at that time in ensuring that the then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan was declared Acting President was exemplary and inspiring. Bala may sometimes say things that many in the South disagree with but his spirit is clean and his mind is pure.

“He is not a racist, a religious bigot or a hegemonist and supremacist. He is not the one that leads a state in which Christians are being slaughtered or that ethnic minorities are being marginalised, humiliated and destroyed.

“If you are looking for a terrorist governor I can name one or two but Bala is not amongst them. He is a leading member of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) Ministers Forum, a group which I belong to, and I assure anyone that cares to listen that he is far more comfortable with indulging in an intellectual joust in which we can agree to disagree than in carrying guns, throwing bombs and killing people. It would serve our interest better if we learnt to separate the wheat from the chaff and stop demonising people simply because they do not share our views.

“To call Bala a terrorist is unacceptable and erroneous. I doubt that has ever killed a chicken let alone a human being.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now