Benue: COSMBYLA reveals why Buhari govt abandoned 1.5 million IDPs

The Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly, COSMBYLA, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government deliberately abandoned the Internally Displaced Persons in Benue State for political purposes.

IDOMA VOICE recalls that the state governor, Samuel Ortom had cried out on the humanitarian crisis in the Benue IDP camp, seeking help from good spirited Nigerians as he alleged that the Federal Government is showing a lackadaisical attitude towards the IDPs.

Over 1.5 million persons have been displaced in Benue state following the incessant attacks launched on residents by suspected Fulani herdsmen who sacked many villagers from their ancestral homes.

A statement issued on Friday by the President General of COSMBYLA, an umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South East, South-South, South West and Middle Belt regions, alleged that the FG has an ulterior motive towards people of the state, saying the Buhari’s administration does not mean well for the state.

The coalition attributed FG’s alleged attitude towards the IDPs to Governor Ortom’s constant outcry on Buhari’s inability to tackle the security crisis rocking the state and other parts of the nation.

“If the Presidency is not comfortable with the sincere and honest stance of the Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom on national issues, does it mean that he should allow over 1.5 million Nigerians in Benue to die simply because he doesn’t like the face of the state governor? This is wickedness taken too far.

“From the look of things and the body language of the Presidency, one will deduce that the federal government ignored Benue state IDPs because Benue is not an APC state. It is totally unacceptable for the FG to allow such a huge financial burden on the state government alone.

“Playing politics with the lives of Nigerians in Benue state is inhuman, wicked, barbaric and unacceptable. The FG must jettison politics and do the needful by taking up its responsibility of taking care of the IDPs who are bonafide citizens of Nigeria,” it said.

COSMBYLA commended the governor for his efforts in ensuring that the IDPs are doing well in the camp despite the FG’s alleged refusal to render help, stressing that the Ortom needs all the assistance from the federal government.

“We commend the Benue state Governor Dr Samuel Ortom who in all sincerity and purpose has made and is making sacrifices both personal and official to ensure that the IDPs are well taken care of,” it said.