Ortom: I faced frustration, abandonment under Buhari’s government

DDM News

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has revealed that his tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari was plagued by frustration and federal neglect.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Ortom made this known during a recent interview where he bluntly confirmed he was “frustrated” under Buhari’s leadership.

When asked if he truly felt frustrated by the federal government, Ortom responded without hesitation.

“Of course. I’ve said it. It wasn’t hidden and I’ve raised alarm several times,” he declared.

The former governor, who served between 2015 and 2023, became known nationwide for his open criticism of the Buhari administration, particularly over insecurity in Benue State.

He consistently accused the federal government of inaction during deadly attacks by armed herders on farming communities.

According to Ortom, the silence from Abuja during times of crisis felt like abandonment.

“We were crying out every day. People were being killed, farms destroyed, and yet the federal government treated it like it was not important,” he lamented.

He said his administration had to rely on local vigilantes and community-driven efforts when federal forces failed to provide adequate support.

“We expected support. Instead, what we got was silence or attacks for speaking the truth,” Ortom added.

He also recalled how his introduction of the anti-open grazing law in Benue met stiff resistance from federal authorities, despite being a policy aimed at reducing violence and improving farmer-herder relations.

“All I wanted was peace for my people. But rather than get support, I was treated like an enemy,” he said.

Ortom’s remarks have reignited discussions about the Buhari administration’s handling of national security, particularly in the Middle Belt and other violence-prone regions.

Supporters have hailed him for boldly confronting what they call systemic indifference from the centre.

Critics, however, accuse him of using insecurity as a political weapon to gain sympathy.

Still, Ortom stood by his record in office, maintaining that his loyalty was to the people who elected him.

“I have no regrets for standing up for my people. I was elected to defend them, and I did my best, even when the federal government turned its back on us,” he asserted.

His comments add to a growing list of post-administration criticisms targeting Buhari’s eight-year tenure, particularly on issues of national unity, security, and the rule of law.

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