Gowon calls for end of killings as he visits Benue
- Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has expressed sadness at the security situation many parts of the country
- Gowon expressed the condolences of his group, “Nigeria Prays” to the government and people of Benue state
- He was billed to attend a church programme in the state and commission some projects executed by Evangelist Ogewu David of Divine Oracle Ministry
Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon who expressed disappointment over the the spate of killings and general security situation in the country called on the security agencies to question the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal.
The Nation reports that Gowon made this known on on Saturday, July 21, at the Government House, Makurdi when he visited Governor Samuel Ortom to commiserate with him, the government and people of the state on the killings in Benue state.
Former Military Head of State who said he was out of the country when 2 priests and 17 worshipers were killed in a church in the state during morning mass expressed the condolences of his group, “Nigeria Prays” to the government and people of the state.
READ ALSO: 2 days after meeting Oshiomhole, Ortom makes U-turn, says nothing will stop him from leaving APC
Gowon said he was sad and worried at the religious dimension the killings is assuming and called on the authorities to redouble their effort to deal with the security situation; warning that if that is not done, the country could descend into a religious war, with no one coming out victorious.
He, however, commended Governor Ortom and the state government for its admirable handling of issues concerning the killings and devastation of communities said that for us to survive as a nation; we must learn to live together as one regardless of ethnicity or religion.
Welcoming the elder statesman, Governor Ortom, represented by his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu thanked him for coming to commiserate with them and adding his voice to the call on the federal government to take decisive actions to end the violence plaguing the state and the country.
He said the magnitude and frequency of the killings and devastation of communities have defied every logic with over 185,000 people internally displaced, and living in camps; far away from their ancestral lands and their farms.
He disclosed that though the killings in the state have come down a little due to the change of tactics by the military who upgraded their operation in the state from “exercise cat race” to “operation whirl stroke”, the threat is not yet over as killings still go on in many places.
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He said that the country is at cross roads, with complaints coming from all sections of the nation state. According to him, the present structure of the Nigerian federation is sick and defective; and in need of injection which must be given intravenously for reasons of its urgency.
Governor Ortom said he agrees with the calls for restructuring, explaining that restructuring would eliminate many of the contradictions and imbalances that have limited the capacity of the federating states to flourish and maximise the benefit of their existence.
Gowon was billed to attend a church programme in the state and commission some projects executed by Evangelist Ogewu David of Divine Oracle Ministry.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state shelved his decision to leave his ruling APC, following a closed-door meeting he had with the national chairman of the party, Comrades Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday, July 19, in Abuja.
Ortom said the party leadership has assured him that no individual in Benue state can pus him out of the party.
The governor said that he is still a member of the All Progressives Congress.
APC chieftains in Benue state say PDP has nothing to offer - on Legit.ng TV:
Source: Legit.ng
