Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has blasted Benue State Governor,Samuel Ortom for saying his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed is a terrorist.
Fani-Kayode said describing Mohammed as a terrorist was unacceptable, erroneous and absurd maintaining that the Bauchi State Governor is not a terrorist.
Presentng reported that the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Monday said he remained convinced that his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, belong to Fulani terrorist group terrorising Nigeria because of his support to the Fulanis herdsmen carrying AK-47.
But in a tweet in Bala Mohammed’s defence, FFk said he found it absurd that anyone would deem him as a terrorist, despite his efforts in nation-building.
“We must choose our battles wisely & know who our real enemies are. I have disagreed with my friend & brother Gov. Bala Mohammed on several occassions over the years & I do not share his views on a number of issues but to describe him as a terrorist is uncharitable & absurd.
This is a man who stands up for the 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: Bala Mohammed Among Those Terrorising Nigeria- Ortom
”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 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.” FFK said.
