Governor Samuel Ortom in an interview reacted to comments credited to Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali on the invasion of the state and killings by alleged Fulani herdsmen. He maintained that they were an indication that the Minister was part of the conspiracy against Benue State and lots more.

Reaction to comments credited to the Minister of Defence that the killings in Benue and Taraba states were as a result of Anti-Open Grazing Laws?

We are not distracted, the anti-grazing law was done in the best interest of Benue State and Nigeria. Before the law came in place, Benue State was attacked more than 40 times and we suffered casualties and destructions. In 2014 alone, an assessment by the Bureau of Local Governments came out with a figure of N95 billion that was lost in terms of property and assets of Benue people, destroyed due to herdsmen attacks. Thirteen local government areas out of 23 were under siege. The herdsmen came and took over the entire land.

When we came in 2015, this challenge continued, the killings continued, the burning and destruction, the raping of our wives and children continued. And we tried to broker peace as law- abiding citizens and as people who believe in leadership with the fear of God. We did everything to ensure that we had peace yet the peace we were looking for never came. And as leaders with the responsibility of providing security for lives and property, we prayed and God directed us and we went into research. We discovered that globally, cattle ranching remains the best practice in animal husbandry around the world.

Argentina and Brazil earn much from beef export but they ranch. America produces cattle more than most countries of the world, they ranch. China and other Asian countries do same; even in Africa, it’s the same practice. Swaziland is one of the smallest countries in Africa that earn much from beef; they also ranch. What we did was the popular wish of the people. The law was not smuggled.

It was a product of the cry of the people and as a responsible government, we heard their cry and presented a bill before the State House of Assembly that went further to do public hearings across the state to get the input of everyone that was concerned because of the importance of the bill. Today, you talk about ranching in some states, grazing reserve in some states and tomorrow you talk about colony. I don’t understand, when globally what is being practised is ranching. I heard and I saw the Minister of Defence after their security meeting.

While briefing the Press, he said it was the law prohibiting open grazing that brought the killings in Benue State. I saw that and I said to myself, it cannot be the Minister of Defence! Somebody who worked and retired from the army after attaining the rank of a General. This is someone who is a Minister, who is educated and has travelled far and wide round the globe. How could he say that? ‘Honourable Minister of Defence, if you said that kind of a thing, where were you as the Minister of this country when herdsmen were carrying AK-47 and weapons higher than AK-47 and were going about killing my people and you want me to keep quiet? And I begin to wonder.

The other day, the Federal Government came out with a pronouncement that it was ISIS, a terrorist group in West Africa that is attacking Benue people and on the other hand, I was told that the Minister said that we should accommodate foreigners. What a country? Foreigners come in without valid papers and they come to take over your land and you surrender it to them? Minister, I will not do that in Benue State, we will not surrender our land. You can go and do it in your own state and not in Benue State.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/01/benuel-killings-the-minister-of-defence-is-part-of-the-conspiracy-against-benue-gov-ortom/

Read the full interview here: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/01/benuel-killings-the-minister-of-defence-is-part-of-the-conspiracy-against-benue-gov-ortom/

Seriously Nigeria needs deliverance

alexmaye:
Seriously Nigeria needs deliverance

largest exporter of beef in Africa is Botswana. The country does ranching. We dont need deliverance except you. Nigerians need homegrown working policies

Ortom don get sense small

Instead of finding the lasting solution as governor who has the responsibility of protection of citizens in his state. Ortom seems to care more about the spot light for casting blames.

Human lives mean nothing to these people....A wicked General once said "dogs and baboon would be soaked in blood if he doesn't become Presidnet"..

Now he is president, and he is fooling himself..

tuzeriouz:

largest exporter of beef in Africa is Botswana. The country does ranching. We dont need deliverance except you. Nigerians need homegrown working policies

okay economist lets see what those working policies do abi is it not Nigeria

papoudaupolos:
Instead of finding the lasting solution as governor who has the responsibility of protection of citizens in his state. Ortom seems to care more about the spot light for casting blames.

What else do you want him to do that he has not done? If the minister of defense is going about talking nonsense, then the governor should reply in similar manner. This is not the time for the governor to keep quiet. The issue must continue to generate national media coverage until a lasting solution is found.

BUHARIISCURSED:
Ortom don get sense small

Really

alexmaye:
okay economist lets see what those working policies do abi is it not Nigeria

who deliverance don epp?

papoudaupolos:
Instead of finding the lasting solution as governor who has the responsibility of protection of citizens in his state. Ortom seems to care more about the spot light for casting blames.

What solution can he find about a group of terrorists Herdmen that have air support and even clearly have full backing from the power that be in Nigeria today ..The best Governor Ortom can do for now is just pass legislation and hope Buharis kins men obey it , the next best thing to do is to make sure that he mobilises his who state effectively to vote against Buhari in 2019 .

alexmaye:
Seriously Nigeria needs deliverance

Nigeria does not need deliverance it is the folks who voted in satanist that need deliverance

kettykings:


Nigeria does not need deliverance it is the folks who voted in satanist that need deliverance

true talk but tuzerious thinks we need a home grown policy that wouldn't see the light of the day

papoudaupolos:
Instead of finding the lasting solution as governor who has the responsibility of protection of citizens in his state. Ortom seems to care more about the spot light for casting blames.

Don't pass blame on him. At least, he is not as dumb as he was. God will give him more wisdom. Tackling security challenges when the security personnel are not on your side is not easy. Or, can you suggest what he should do?

Ortom is really manning up.

That's not news. They are many. From the dunce at the center to the security apparatus of the government.

http://www.mortalpoet.com/who-is-sympathetic-to-fulani-herdsmen/

Gov.. you have immunity.

Write to the NASS.. AU and UN that Buhari and his kinsmen has laid siege on Benue.

All the major players take verbal orders from Buhari and body language.

They dont know how to stop.. let me give you a hint.. In the mind of an average Fulani man, you are the aggressors. and since they dont forgive, they will kill.. rape and destroy your properties non stop.

The only thing you got at your disposal is your office which is a legal platform to enact laws via your state house.

Be wise Gov.. give it your all.. dont relent even if they threaten you..

This is a fight Fulanis can never win. its just a matter of time.