War of words: ‘It’s very disturbing’ – Diri rebukes Ortom, Mohammed

Governor Douyo Diri has urged the governors of Bauchi and Benue states Bala Mohammed and Samuel Ortom to sheath their swords and forgive each other.

Bala and Ortom has for the past couple of days engaged in a cold war over the endemic farmers and herders clashes in the country.

Bala opined that the herdsmen were forced to take weapons ‘because nobody protects them against cattle rustlers’ while his Benue state counterpart is of the view that it was wrong for Bala to support herders carrying guns alleging that he was supporting terrorism.

Diri during a courtesy visit to governor Bala Thursday at the government house Bauchi asked the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Uche Secondus to intervene in the conflict between the two governors to avoid its escalation.

“It is very disturbing to read on the pages of national newspapers the two governors of Bauchi and Benue engaging in a cold war. I appealed to the party leadership to intervene in the matter and no party member should speak on the contentious issue again”. He appealed.

Responding, Bala thanked Diri for the visit and promised not to speak on the contentious issue again or against Ortom.