Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has once again condemned the activities of terrorists operating in Nigeria, claiming that “the country was under siege” and that the country needed assistance to recover from the pangs of terrorist groups holding the country hostage.
Governor Ortom also challenged Nigerians in Diaspora to use the international environment, with its free press, to draw attention to the evil going on in their country and speak out against religious extremism.
In a statement issued by Rev. Peter Ichull, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Affairs, the Governor called for religious freedom in Nigeria, insisting that the federal government must protect the people’s fundamental human rights.
Governor Ortom issued the warning while speaking to Nigerians in Diaspora and friends of Nigeria at the Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) International Ministerial Fringe Events in Nigeria, organised by the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation and the International Peace-Building and Social Justice in London.
“The bombing of churches and killing of worshippers was a calculated attempt to instil fear in the living in order to limit their religious freedom,” he said.
The Governor emphasised that freedom is humanity’s most valuable commodity, but it is also the most contested.
According to him, it is for this reason that every just and progressive society must uphold certain freedoms for all people as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the constitutions of most nations, including Nigeria, and other rights’ documents.
While questioning the state of freedom in Nigeria, the governor emphasised the importance of Freedom of Religion and Belief because it ensures that every individual has the freedom to worship in peace and security and to change religion or belief at any time without fear of persecution.
In order to address the intractable security issues, the governor stated that his state was forced to enact “The Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches Law, 2017,” as well as other security measures.
Ortom also suggested that President Buhari be honest in political appointments and cite development projects that reflect the nation’s diversity.
He urged President Buhari to address the blatant attacks on Christians based on their faith, belief system, and religion as soon as possible.
Ortom also advocated for “Mobilization at the local and international levels to ensure that the dark cloud of rabid religious intolerance and accompanying violence by radical Islam in Nigeria is rolled back.”
The Governor urged the International Organization for Peace-Building and Social Justice (PSJ UK), organisers of the International Ministerial Fringe Events on Nigeria, and other organisations with similar goals to use their voices to ensure that the Federal Government of Nigeria lives up to its constitutional responsibilities of promoting and upholding Nigeria’s status in words and actions.
According to Governor Ortom, for the Federal Government to ensure that every citizen feels a sense of belonging, Nigerians of all religions and beliefs must be treated equally.
Other recommendations made by the Governor for the establishment of long-term peace in the country include “prosecution of all religious offenders in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” “ensuring the return and rehabilitation of all internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands,” and “payment of full compensation to all victims of religious persecution and insecurity, and ensuring that victims of religious persecution get justice.”
The 85-year-old Baroness Caroline Cox, a Member of Parliament in the House of Lords, stated that Ortom’s invitation to address such an important gathering was justified because his voice on current issues in Nigeria had gained international recognition.
