The attack is coming barely hours after Ayu called on Benue people not to be worried about the rumors being spread against him saying he was preoccupied with how the party would win the forthcoming general elections.
Reacting to Ayu in a statement issued and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Sunday, the coordinator of the group, Aloysius Gbakaan, regretted that Ayu never made mention of the victims of flooding and Gbeji herders attack throughout his speech, during the receptiflooon held in his honor in Gboko on Friday and another meeting held on Saturday.
The statement read, “Parts of Benue State have come under renewed attacks by Fulani herdsmen in recent weeks. Gbeji in Ukum Local Government Area recorded one of the heaviest casualties in the last two weeks with 36 corpses recovered and more people still missing while others are in the hospital. Benue is one of the states facing the biggest floods with thousands of people rendered homeless by the surging water.
“As a man who is from Benue State and as the national chairman of a political party which is seeking to take over the reins of power at the centre, many Nigerians expected Ayu to visit Gbeji and sympathise with families of those killed in the attack while condemning the dastardly act. He was also expected to visit the areas most affected by flooding and offer some words of consolation.
“It would not have been too much to send relief materials to the victims. In fact, he ought to have invited his presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to accompany him visit Gbeji and the flood hit areas.
“Ayu did none of these things and instead mounted the political podium in Gboko to attack Governor Samuel Ortom and other PDP stakeholders in Benue State who have called his bluff.”
The group called on both Ayu and Atiku to stop living in denial and advised the two political leaders to know that they need the support of all Nigerians to win the forthcoming general elections.
The group demanded an apology from Ayu for playing politics when the people were being killed.
“We want Nigerians who are desirous of enjoying peace after the tenure of President Buhari to beware of Iyorchia Ayu and Atiku Abubakar’s utterances now that they are not near the seat of power. They have no sympathy or good feelings for the people,” parts of the statement read.
