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Tag: Benue state

  • Anti-grazing law can’t work, it’s unrealistic –Sale Bayari

    Anti-grazing law can’t work, it’s unrealistic –Sale Bayari

    FULANI leaders began warning President Muhammadu Buhari about impending crisis in Logo and Guma local government areas of Benue State in May 2015 and it is extremely unjust for any Nigerian to accuse them of backing bloody conflicts anywhere, says Alhaji Sale Bayeri, the Secretary-General of Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association and member of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association’s (MACBAN) Board of Trustees.

    Speaking with The Nation on telephone from his Jos base, he emphasised the need for all stakeholders to make significant concessions that would make it possible to have sustainable peace, stressing that there is no way an anti-grazing law can work.

    Emphasising that MACBAN and other Fulani herdsmen associations only want a peaceful environment where they can rear their animals without conflicts, Bayari said they had warned the presidency about potential flashpoints in 75 local government areas across 21 states without appropriate proactive action by the federal government.

    Noting that the Boko Haram insurgency would be a child’s play if herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts are not resolved in a way that is acceptable to all sides, he stated that there would be very grave consequences if 18 million Fulanis continue to perceive deliberate injustice.

    “The way this thing is being driven through ethnicity, sectionalism, religion and politics is not going to help, it is going to make this country ungovernable.

    “We have given solutions to Buhari long time ago; even before he was sworn in, I gave him a breakdown of likely explosive areas that we have, in terms of herdsmen and farmers’ restiveness.

    “Yes, in 21 states and about 75 local governments; I sent a letter before his inauguration and another one, one year after his inauguration; when I didn’t get response, I wrote to him again.

    “The places include Oye Local Government and two other local governments in the northern part of Ekiti. I gave him breakdown of the problem there; in Oyo State, like Shaki area, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola, I treated them and gave him the breakdown because they are the boiling spots.

    “The report is about 70 pages, I gave a breakdown which is from 1999 till date, of places where a Fulani man or herdsmen pointed a finger at a farmer and vice versa and what followed; I gave the analysis state by state and local governments by local governments and Guma and Logo was part of my report,” he explained.

    According to Bayari, he personally delivered the correspondence by hand without receiving even a mere response.

    “I did (warn) since May 2015 before he (President Buhari) was sworn in; I took it to his office in Maitama when the present Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, was his Chief of Staff, and after one year when I didn’t get response, I wrote another cover letter and went to submit that one in Villa and it was acknowledged but nobody replied the letter up till date.

    “Even as at that time, because of the series of crises, I suggested that government should start looking at the creation of ministry of livestock and associated services so that these problems would be addressed and if they heeded, this problem would have been addressed long ago,” he told The Nation.

    Emphasising that a great majority of Fulanis are far from being interested in violent conflicts, he wondered why “anyone would contemplate an unrealistic law like the one seeking to ban open grazing in Nigeria.

    “It is just a misconception that there should be no open grazing in Nigeria; in the entirety of Africa, there is nowhere open grazing is banned.

    “There is no country where there are lots of cows, including South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, there is nowhere you can tell me that there is total ban on open grazing.

    “What is normally available is that there should be open grazing for those people who think it is traditional and cultural to do it because that is their only form of exercise, leisure and pleasure because that is their culture; we also have grazing reserves for those who would want to start learning how to settle and then the ranches for those who are wealthy and into livestock only for commercial purposes,” he stated.

    Speaking further on the non-realistic expectation of changing nomadic Fulanis’ ways of life and cultural orientation with government fiat, he alleged that some armed men from Benue were bent on attacking herdsmen who had left the state, adding that provocations should not be allowed to push Fulanis into nationwide reactions that may be more dangerous than the insurgency being witnessed in the North East.

    According to him, “They were planning to attack some herdsmen that left Benue State, so the thing is serious and we have told people before that this thing has the potential of causing proper breakdown of law and order not only in the north but the entire country.

    “The Boko Haram crisis in the enclave of Borno and Yobe took over the entire North-East and started coming down even to Abuja, how much more something involving Fulanis who are found in all parts of the country and across West Africa?

    “You know their population, they are over 18 million in Nigeria, you can see that there is no state that we don’t have Fulani presence, so if these people start any insurgency now or any resistance, you can imagine what will happen and they are just people who know everywhere in the jungles and the bushes,” Bayari added.

    According to the Fulani leader, who emphasized that the cow is far more important to a Fulani man than its monetary value, the only realistic solution towards achieving lasting peace is to modify the law against grazing, by accommodating the very rich who can afford to have ranches, as well as those who can only continue their nomadic ways.

    “They can modify it in such a way that for those Fulanis, there are some of us like me, my parent for the past 50 years have been settled in one place and from the small place we inherited from our grandparents who came to settle in a virgin land and when it was not enough, we bought from other natives there.

    “We built our houses there and we are settling there but still we move the cows on a seasonal basis when there is no grass and water; we move them for three to four months to go where there is green pasture and when the farmers want to start cultivating, they come back to where we keep them again till next year.

    “Then, there are the Muritala Nyakos, the Buharis, the Abdullahi Adamus, who may have ranches worth billions. As a Fulani man, I am looking forward to owning my own ranch, somebody does not have to outlaw my only means of livelihood because I cannot afford a ranch and then you know that I have brothers in the village that are over 60 who have never gone to school; they don’t share from the national cake at whatever level and with this law, how do you expect them to survive?

    “They sleep in the bush all because of the animals and once the animals are not there, they see a total extinction of their own generation, not even an individual.

    “As Nigerians, we have right to life based on the constitution and international law and the right to life does not go without a means of sustenance of life and when you want to eliminate the sustenance of these people, they will fight as if you are telling them to lie down so that you can take knife and slaughter them,” Alhaji Sale Bayari stated.

  • Not time for bickering

    Not time for bickering

    Two governors of neighbouring states, both elected on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have different ideas of the cause, and thus solution to the herdsmen crises ravaging various parts of the country. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Tanko Al Makura of Nasarawa State are at war over the location of the killer herdsmen who have invaded and murdered many farmers and innocent residents of Benue State. Ortom accused the neighbouring Nasarawa of harbouring and, perhaps, supporting the herdsmen who allegedly strike from Tonga and recoil there to avoid being apprehended by the security forces. But, Al Makura has expressed angst that his colleague could make an allegation he regarded as wild. The Nasarawa State governor explained that he was so concerned about the crisis that he had to cut short his vacation to lend a helping hand. He said many of the displaced Benue residents have been accommodated in the same Awe Local Government that Ortom claimed hosts the murderers.

    The tango is uncalled for. The two gentlemen are supposed to share and compare notes with a view to finding a lasting solution to what has become a major plague. If Gov. Ortom could be running to Abuja so frequently to seek support and solution to the crisis, it is surprising that he never considered visiting neighbouring states with a view to finding and tackling the problem at its root. What would Gov. Al Makura gain by being a source of Benue’s pain? Why would the [people of Nasarawa be allies of the marauding herdsmen who are not doing the same in their own state?

    We understand the pressure under which Governor Ortom is operating and the likely consequences. However, it is the mark of leadership that a man weighs his words and actions because of the likely effects. Utterances have been known to set communities and countries ablaze. At this point what Benue needs are friends, not enemies. If Gov. Al Makura were to react to the allegations by his Benue counterpart, he would send the displaced persons back to their state of origin and that would not only deepen the woes of the people, but is capable of exacerbating the crisis.

    We are surprised that the security forces are yet to get to the root of a crisis that has festered for so long. Had the Police and the Department of State Services responded promptly and professionally to the crisis when it began, there would have been no controversy over the location of the purveyors of death and their modes of operation. The Federal Government should be reminded again that the primary purpose of governance is two-fold -security of lives and property and welfare of the citizens. Any government that fails in these respects does not deserve the support and respect of the people. So far, government agencies have failed the Benue people and, by extension Taraba and other states. It was this failure that led to the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law and increased tension between farmers and the herdsmen.

    What has the government done to rein in and bring the murderers to book? What, too, has been done to ensure that the herdsmen have access year-round to water and grazing for their livestock? Do we have a virile policy that would promote livestock farming in the most conducive environment? It is unfortunate that the President had to wait for the sacrifice of about 73 lives in the latest round of butchery before he realised the need to dispatch the Inspector General of Police to the State, and send the Interior Minister to assess the situation. Mr. President should realise that the whole country is his constituency and injury to one is injury to all. He has to learn to respond more swiftly to crisis. It is his predilection for slow reaction that has given rise to allegations that he supports crimes committed by the Fulani. Indeed, this is a wakeup call to him and his government.

  • Benue attacks: Shot livestock guard loses 4 wives, 18 children

    Benue attacks: Shot livestock guard loses 4 wives, 18 children

    Mr Akpenheen Amile, a Livestock Guard, who is being treated of gunshots sustained in the Jan. 2 attack on villages in Guma, Benue State, says he is yet to establish contact with his four wives and 18 children.

    “I am in physical pains from gunshot injuries, but such pains don’t hurt me like the inability to ascertain the fate of my four wives and 18 children,” Amile told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    NAN reports that five villages in Guma and Logo Local Governments were attacked by unknown gunmen on Jan. 1 and 2.

    According to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), 73 people have so far been confirmed killed by the invaders.

    Amile, who is married to five wives, told NAN that only his fifth wife was with him.

    The livestock guard, who is being treated at the Benue State Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), said that he was shot on one of his legs.

    “I am physically in pains, but I am more worried about the psychological pains caused by the disconnection with my family.

    “As it is, I don’t know whether they are among the dead or they have fled to some unknown destination for safety,” he said.

    Amile, who claimed that the attackers were dressed in herdsmen attire, said that they arrived “around 5 p.m. and started shooting anyone on sight”.

    Speaking through an interpreter, Amile said that he was with other Livestock Guards employed by the Benue Government to enforce the anti-open grazing law, when the gunmen descended on them.

    “We were at our camp at a primary school at Iwer, in Guma, when the gunmen surrounded us and started shooting.

    “It was while I was running for safety that I was shot on the leg. We had to flee because we were not armed. Besides, we were taken by surprise.

    “They killed many Livestock Guards and many of us were wounded.

    “Since the attack, I have not heard from my four wives and 18 children. Only my fifth wife is here with me. This is causing me sleepless nights; the situation is unbearable,” he said.

  • Benue to sack, reduce salary to solve non-payment

    Benue to sack, reduce salary to solve non-payment

    The Benue State Government is considering two options to get out of the non-regular payment of workers’ salaries.

    The Deputy Governor of the state, Benson Abounu, who is also the chairman of the screening committee verifying the actual workforce of both the state and local governments, disclosed this at the stakeholders’ meeting held in Government House, Makurdi.

    Abounu, who gave an interim report of his committee to stakeholders on Monday, explained that the committee was faced with the options of reducing workers’ salaries or retrenching some as a possible solution to the non-regular payment of salary in the state.

    The deputy governor noted that his committee discovered several anomalies that could have been responsible for huge wage bill of the state which he puts at N7.8bn monthly.

    Abounu explained that the shift allowance meant for a category of workers on shift duty at the state health management board were being paid.

    The screening committee chairman also said that 7,746 local government workers across the state with a total emolument of N530m were recruited without approval in the past 10 years.

    He said: “Our committee was set up to look at the legitimate earnings of workers both at the state and local governments and several anomalies were found which were contained in our interim report.

    “For instance, at the health management board, shift allowance is meant for only those on shift duty but to our chagrin, we discovered that all members of staff of this board were collecting shift allowance.

    “So also was undue allowances by members of staff in our tertiary institutions, the staffers collect SIWESS allowance every month.

    “At the local government level, when we carried out the screening, many came up with papers which added to 20,976 workforces, the additional figure is 7,746 members of staff and these people were recruited with no approval.”

  • A governor recalls his motor park days

    A governor recalls his motor park days

    On a day Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom was honoured alongside others, he held the audience spellbound detailing how he worked his way from being a motor park to driver and all the way to the government house, reports DELE ANOFI

    Everyone has their story. For Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, life roughly began at a motor park. He has not forgotten that and always said it when the moment was right.

    He found that moment again at the Sheraton Hotel’s  Ladi Kwali hall, Abuja where he was rewarded for his humble beginnings and hard work that shot him to the top.

    The event was organised by the promoters of a television programme, True Nigerians, produced by Zaaki  Azzay. It recognises Nigerians whose lives are capable of impacting and inspiring younger generations.

    Apart from Ortom, two other governors, Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Onyeka Onwenu were recognized and given awards on the night.

    Though, he was not the only recipient of the award, the video clip of the episode that featured Ortom became the major attraction of the night as the packed hall could not help but applauded every minute of the clip.

    The governor was shown at a motor park in Benue where it all began. At the park, he looked to be at home. The governor was said to have begun life as a park tout, then a bus conductor before becoming a driver. As a driver, destiny linked him up with a Christian leader, who was a prominent politician in the state as his driver. He narrated how that move later led to the continuation of his education home and abroad, then politics and eventually where he is today. After a little pep talk, the producer asked the governor to oblige Nigerians his prior professional acumen as a bus conductor while living a life in a motor park. He did, calling passengers into a bus and collecting fares from them, the hall erupted in appreciation of a former Minister that never forgot his beginning.

    In his acceptance speech, Ortom emphasised the virtues of being humble, determined, focused and God fearing.

    He said, “The message there is to appreciate the fact that no matter your little beginnings, greatness lies ahead of you, once you persevere, once you are determined to succeed and above all once you have faith in God. Heaven will be your limit; you can achieve anything as exemplified by the lives of those who are receiving this award tonight. This programme has inspired many as many have come to me after watching it that they received inspiration from what they saw. The programme has touched and still touching lives. It has inspired lots of Nigerians.

    “I need to state that for me, this is something that keeps reflecting on my life as I take on the responsibilities of leadership. God has so helped me, despite my humble beginning, God has been so helpful and this is what gets me humbled anytime I think about my beginning because many people you see in that video clip are still at that motor park. It could have  been me still there but why is it that God has chosen me to be where I am today after passing through other several leadership positions? So, each time I reflect on this I  become more humble and I have no reason to pride over any other human being because I could have been in that motor park up till today. For that, I appreciate God and I want to say that I’ll continue to acknowledge the mercy of God upon my life and I will continue to live with the fear of God which will translate to truthfulness, equity, fairness, humility, integrity, justice, selflessness, accountability and above all love to all.

    “Ordinarily I don’t go about receiving awards but this one is so touching to me because it inspires people, especially our younger generations. This award is dedicated to my mother who taught me to be dedicated, selfless and hard-working”.

    While Dankwambo was absent but represented at the event, Gov Almakura on his part urged Nigerians, especially the youth not to disregard or dump their cultural values. He also emphasised the fact that the future generations needed to have insights into the lives of Nigerians that have done well for themselves and made the country proud along the way. He said the little efforts made along the road by the recipient’s should be a motivation for the younger generation. Almakura appreciated the organisers for the recognition of his simplicity and attachment to his cultural roots, saying, “I feel too small but grateful to be considered for this recognition compared to the big ones that have received this award like former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Little efforts made along the years should be a motivation and these are the kind of examples our children should imbibe so that they don’t get lost in the attractions of today. The mindset of children today is to compete with their rich parents and they get lost in the process only to realise very late in life that it is impossible to retrace their steps. Children should not dump our tradition and their thoughts should not be elitist but down to earth. These are our core values and Nigerian should imbibe live and let live. This has always been my guiding principle and the reason for embarking on projects that appear simplistic but they ultimately affect the lives of the rural people in Nasarawa”.

  • Ortom sacks adviser for disloyalty and anti-party activities

    Ortom sacks adviser for disloyalty and anti-party activities

    The Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Economic Matters and Investment, Dr Bem Melladu, has been relieved of his appointment.
    A letter from the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Ijohor, SAN, conveyed the development.
    Professor Ijohor, SAN, expressed appreciation to Dr Melladu for services rendered and wished him well in his future endeavours.
    The two paragraph statement was signed the deputy director of information in the office of the SSG.
    DR. Bem Malladu, before now, acted as SSG for almost seven months, when the former SSG took ill.
    The sacked of Dr. Melladu is not unconnected with his recently political outing which he clearly identified himself with those opposed to the All Progressive Congress ( APC ).

    Read Also: Ortom : NLC blackmailing my government

  • A governor recalls his motor park days

    A governor recalls his motor park days

    On a day Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom was honoured alongside others, he held the audience spellbound detailing how he worked his way from being a motor park to driver and all the way to the government house, reports DELE ANOFI

    Everyone has their story. For Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, life roughly began at a motor park. He has not forgotten that and always said it when the moment was right.

    He found that moment again at the Sheraton Hotel’s  Ladi Kwali hall, Abuja where he was rewarded for his humble beginnings and hard work that shot him to the top.

    The event was organised by the promoters of a television programme, True Nigerians, produced by Zaaki  Azzay. It recognises Nigerians whose lives are capable of impacting and inspiring younger generations.

    Apart from Ortom, two other governors, Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Onyeka Onwenu were recognized and given awards on the night.

    Though, he was not the only recipient of the award, the video clip of the episode that featured Ortom became the major attraction of the night as the packed hall could not help but applauded every minute of the clip.

    The governor was shown at a motor park in Benue where it all began. At the park, he looked to be at home. The governor was said to have begun life as a park tout, then a bus conductor before becoming a driver. As a driver, destiny linked him up with a Christian leader, who was a prominent politician in the state as his driver. He narrated how that move later led to the continuation of his education home and abroad, then politics and eventually where he is today. After a little pep talk, the producer asked the governor to oblige Nigerians his prior professional acumen as a bus conductor while living a life in a motor park. He did, calling passengers into a bus and collecting fares from them, the hall erupted in appreciation of a former Minister that never forgot his beginning.

    In his acceptance speech, Ortom emphasised the virtues of being humble, determined, focused and God fearing.

    He said, “The message there is to appreciate the fact that no matter your little beginnings, greatness lies ahead of you, once you persevere, once you are determined to succeed and above all once you have faith in God. Heaven will be your limit; you can achieve anything as exemplified by the lives of those who are receiving this award tonight. This programme has inspired many as many have come to me after watching it that they received inspiration from what they saw. The programme has touched and still touching lives. It has inspired lots of Nigerians.

    “I need to state that for me, this is something that keeps reflecting on my life as I take on the responsibilities of leadership. God has so helped me, despite my humble beginning, God has been so helpful and this is what gets me humbled anytime I think about my beginning because many people you see in that video clip are still at that motor park. It could have  been me still there but why is it that God has chosen me to be where I am today after passing through other several leadership positions? So, each time I reflect on this I  become more humble and I have no reason to pride over any other human being because I could have been in that motor park up till today. For that, I appreciate God and I want to say that I’ll continue to acknowledge the mercy of God upon my life and I will continue to live with the fear of God which will translate to truthfulness, equity, fairness, humility, integrity, justice, selflessness, accountability and above all love to all.

    “Ordinarily I don’t go about receiving awards but this one is so touching to me because it inspires people, especially our younger generations. This award is dedicated to my mother who taught me to be dedicated, selfless and hard-working”.

    While Dankwambo was absent but represented at the event, Gov Almakura on his part urged Nigerians, especially the youth not to disregard or dump their cultural values. He also emphasised the fact that the future generations needed to have insights into the lives of Nigerians that have done well for themselves and made the country proud along the way. He said the little efforts made along the road by the recipient’s should be a motivation for the younger generation. Almakura appreciated the organisers for the recognition of his simplicity and attachment to his cultural roots, saying, “I feel too small but grateful to be considered for this recognition compared to the big ones that have received this award like former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Little efforts made along the years should be a motivation and these are the kind of examples our children should imbibe so that they don’t get lost in the attractions of today. The mindset of children today is to compete with their rich parents and they get lost in the process only to realise very late in life that it is impossible to retrace their steps. Children should not dump our tradition and their thoughts should not be elitist but down to earth. These are our core values and Nigerian should imbibe live and let live. This has always been my guiding principle and the reason for embarking on projects that appear simplistic but they ultimately affect the lives of the rural people in Nasarawa”.

  • Senate endorse Health Sciences varsity, Otukpo

    Senate endorse Health Sciences varsity, Otukpo

    A bill which sought the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo ( FUHSO ), Benue state, has received the endorsement of the Senate and stakeholders in the education and health sectors of the country.

    The Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission ( NUC ), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria ( MDCAN ), Nigeria Medical Association ( NMA ), National Association of Resident Doctors ( NARD ) and League of Idoma Professors ( LIP ) were unanimous in their submissions at the Senate Public hearing that the university is desirable.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who described t the bill as timely noted that the establishment of the university would help mitigate the crisis in the health sector.

    Saraki stressed that the university would open the window for admission and training of medical  doctors, nurses , pharmacists and  medical  laboratory scientists in Nigeria adding “the university when established would address the issues  of medical tourism and its associated capital flights”.

    Saraki who was represented the Chief Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye lamented that Nigeria loses humongous sum of money about N3billion annually on account of citizens seeking medical attentions abroad.

    Sponsor of the bill and former Senate President, Senator David Mark, listed the educational, economic and social importance of establishing the Health University to include medical education, access to health care facilities and employment opportunities.

    Senator Mark urged his colleagues to support and pass the bill for the benefit of humanity .

    Education Minister Mallam Adamu Adamu added that the establishment of the Health University would help address the imbalance in health education just as it will solve the medical needs of citizens.

    Speaking through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Sunday Echono, the minister assured that the  executive arm of government will do the needful as soon as the legislative processes are completed .

    The NUC executive Secretary  Professor Adamu Rasheed who spoke through Prof Ibrahim Yakassai said the university would be  an added value to the pursuit of medical Education in Nigeria .

    All the Speakers including Professor Innocent Ujah of Nigeria Institute for Medical Research ( NIMR ) , Professor Francis Uba of College of Medical Sciences, Professor Owoicho Akpa, of League of IDOMA Professors, former Interior minister Comrade  Abah Moro,  and Dr. Umar Adamu  of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA)  among others were of the consensus that the university be established forthwith to address medical challenges in Nigeria.

  • Anti-grazing law: Ortom warns traditional rulers

    Anti-grazing law: Ortom warns traditional rulers

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has said traditional rulers found to be constituting themselves into criminal elements to frustrate the implementation of the anti-open  grazing law would be removed from office.

    Speaking while inaugurating local government committees for the implementation of the law yesterday at Benue People’s House, Governor Ortom said traditional rulers are expected to facilitate easy implementation of the law in their various domains.

    While emphasizing that the law protects both herdsmen and farmers, he warned that any one who rustles cattle would face the law just as any person  that trespasses into farms with livestock would be prosecuted accordingly.

    The governor said herdsmen that have been staying in Benue should not allow foreigners to come in and noted that the authorities can manage the  indigenous Fulani and their livestock.

    Governor Ortom further stated that the Fulani that can speak Idoma, Tiv and other languages should prevent foreigners from infiltrating in their own interest and explained that livestock guards are going to be trained to help in the implementation of the law.

    According to him, those skeptical of the law should Give it a chance. He made it clear that those insisting that they must graze their cattle when there is no land for grazing should go to states where there is land for such.

    He recalled that when herdsmen were killing Benue people in hundreds, he did not allow them to arm themselves because violence and chaos would not do good to anybody.

    He maintained that the people depend on farming now that salary payment is a problem and urged livestock owners, farmers and other stakeholders to  key into ranching like the Federal Government.

    Ortom made herdsmen who also attended the inauguration in large numbers to understand that cattle rearing is business just  like farming.

    Special adviser to the governor on security, Col Edwin Jando, in a remark, said a census of the Fulani  in Benue was being taken and added that six pilot ranches would be established.

    Jando said such ranches would have clinics, bore holes, police posts and other facilities and urged herdsmen in the various villages to liaise with such communities to establish ranches where they can get cheap food for their cows and themselves.

  • Ortom seeks arrest of Meyetti Allah leaders in Benue 

    Ortom seeks arrest of Meyetti Allah leaders in Benue 

    …Briefs Buhari on security situation in Benue

     

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday called for the arrest of leadership of Meyetti Allah group in the state.

    The group is opposed to the Anti-Open Grazing Act expected to come in force on the 1st of November, 2017.

    Speaking with State House correspondences after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ortom said that the leadership is posing a threat to lives and properties in the state.

    He said “I came to brief and Mr. President about the security situation in my state, about the threat about Meyetti Allah that have even taken us to court. The threat that they will make the Anti-Open Grazing Act impossible for the people of Bennie State. I intimated him and also generally the security situation in the state.

    “Commonalities we have brought it to its nearest minimum and we believe that the security agencies that are working with us will sustain the tempo. We will do everything to provide security to protect lives and property.

    “Well, I am a law abiding citizen and a governor, Benue people are law abiding that is why in the midst of the provocation from herdsmen attack, we took time to ensure that we put the law in place, sign it and we are going to start implementation 1st of November and we hope that people will comply.

    “And everyone in Benue State should appreciate the fact that it is the law that is giving us protection. It is the intention of this government to ensure that we give protection to lives and property through the rule of law.

    “So, anyone staying in Benue State must comply. One thing I must say is that the law protects herdsmen and farmers. We are against cattle rustling; those who are caught will be penalized. Those who want to stay in Benue State and do cattle business must ranch their cattles, this is what we are saying.

    “As far as we are concern, the law is not targeted at any individual, group of people of ethnic group, it is meant to protect everyone who is living in Benue State.” he said

    Stressing that Meyetti Allah has taken the government to court, he said that it is not possible for Meyetti Allah to overrun Benue and make it ungovernable.

    He added “It is not going to be accepted. We stand by what we have done, we have done our legitimate, lawful role as governor as citizens of the state, so, we don’t see how somebody will sit somewhere and say that we should not implement a law that has restored peace in our place.

    “If you want to bring confusion I want to assure you that I have directed the security men to arrest those people. I am calling for the arrest of the leadership of Meyetti Allah, to be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.

    “We have for a long time celebrated impunity in this country, we cannot continue like that. And so if they come out with this kind of threat, the evidence are there, they did a world press conference, so what is the security agencies doing? These people must be penalized.” he said

    According to him, there is enough land in the state for ranching of cattles.

    “Those who want to apply to get land to ranch they should do it, there are couple of ranches around. We are also going to provide land in designated places in the three senatorial zones, these have been approved by the state executive council and as many that are interested in having these ranches, we will give them the land.” he stated

    The governor said that he also briefed the President about the ecological problem in Benue State and his major challenge of salaries payment.

    According to him, it was not intentional that salaries are being owed.

    “It is not deliberate and we have not diverted money whether bail out or Paris club anywhere, the records are there for anyone to scrutinize and see.

    “The situation is that I inherited N69 billion arrears on pensions, gratuities and salaries. Then over N70 billion contractual obligations and so it has been a huge burden on our finances and so Mr. President too has promised to find ways that the state can also get support.

    On measures being taken to stop corruption in the state’s wage bill, he said “The issue is that we must admit that Benue State Wage Bill is one of the highest in this country, N7.8 billion. My predecessor admitted that there was mistake in negotiating with them but they resisted attempts to bring it down, now we have no choice.

    “We have said it especially when the leadership of the labour congress came and we dialogue and we have set up technical committees comprising technical team from labour congress and technical team from my government, they will look at it and review wage bill and ensure that leakages are eliminated, salary padding and ghost workers and all that.

    “I want to assure you that we are going to prosecute anyone who is found culpable in the salary inflation. Honestly, N7.8 billion wage bill for Benue State is out of place and there is no way we will continue in this manner.

    “I and my council, we have looked at the wage bill and compare with what people are collecting elsewhere in the country and we have done to an average of N4.5 billion that we just have to review it to that. Because an average income for Benue State both from federation account and IGR stands at slightly above N6 billion.

    “So, if you are paying salaries alone you are have a deficit of N1.8 billion a month. It is impossible and we have security issues to tackle and several other things that government must run and so it becomes a big problem.

    “I don’t have problems with my workers because they understood it, we are transparent, everybody has seen what we are doing but we have to find a way around it. I can assure you that in the next few weeks that is what we are working on and by the grace of God we will come to a reasonable figure that we will be able to pay salaries as at when due.” he said

    He added “I came to appreciate the President him and to encourage him to be steadfast and committed to his leadership. I believe that what God brought him to achieve in this country, he will definitely achieve it. Now we see him bouncing every day to the glory of God. We appreciate this and we look forward that God will help him to take us through 2015 to 2019 and then 2019 to 2023.

    “That is our prayer because for now, there is no credible candidate as far as I know that has the capacity to take Nigeria out of where we are today. I believe Mr. President has the capacity and let God sustain his health and consummate his healing so that Nigeria can be on the right path,” he said.