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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Herdsmen: Defence minister under attack

    Herdsmen: Defence minister under attack

    Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday faulted Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali for attributing the invasion of the state by killer herdsmen to the enactment of anti-open grazing laws.

    He said it was unfortunate that the minister prefer conferring immunity on cattle to human beings.

    He said herdsmen attack on farmers is a monster that has the capacity of consuming the entire country.

    He said as at Thursday, there were reports of killings in Guma part of the state.

    Ortom, who reacted to the Minister’s claims at the Benue People’s House, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the minister.

    He said: “It is unfortunate, but I want to console myself that that thing is not coming from the Honourable Minister. But if it did, I’ll say that it is very, very unfortunate. Then the solution to the security challenges we have in this country is not in sight having those kinds of people in position who are not able to give quality advice and to also proffer solution to the security problems we have here.

    “For instance, if you say it is because of the law that killings by herdsmen are going on in Benue, is there any law prohibiting open grazing in Adamawa State? Is there any one in Plateau State? Is there any law in Kaduna, Ondo, Bayelsa, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta or Edo State?

    “In Edo State, cattle have taken over even schools. This is provoking. It is like dancing on the graves of those people who were murdered and slaughtered in this state on the first of January. “It’s unfortunate that you have those kinds of people who are saddled with the responsibility of providing security for our country. I do not want to join issues with him, but I will personally see him and try to find out why he had to say that.

    The other day, a report came from the Department of State Services (DSS) that it was the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) terrorist organisation that is taking over, and I also heard that the minister was quoted as saying we should accommodate foreigners. Foreigners who come here illegally should be accommodated?

    “So if a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is coming out to encourage our citizens to do illegal things, I now begin to see why they have given immunity that is the prerogative of the President and the Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors, to herdsmen who kill and even to cattle.

    “So, cattle in Nigeria have more immunity than human beings. This is unfortunate, and I look forward that he will apologise to us and retract what he said, because it is an insult on our collective leadership.

    “It is wrong. And let the minister know that we are more intelligent than he thinks we are. We will continue to do the right thing. We’re not asking for anything outside the laws of this land. The law prohibiting open grazing that we have enacted was legitimate as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as law-abiding citizens, we will continue to do this.”

    Ortom asked the Federal Government to address the security challenge at hand instead of diverting attention.

    He said: “I want to advise the Federal Government to face this challenge squarely because it is their responsibility to provide security for lives and property, because we as a state don’t own the security apparatus of this country.

    “So it is their responsibility. Instead of diverting attention, they should address the security challenges at hand.

    “Today, they will say that Ortom is arming 6,000 militia and tomorrow they will go and sponsor people to write rubbish about me and all that just to try to divert attention. Why not face the real issue that is confronting us?

    “This is a monster that has the capacity of consuming the entire country, and we must arise as leaders and support Mr. President to ensure that we surmount this.

    Responding to a question, he asked the President to caution the Defence Minister.

    He added:  “Well, I’ll see what Mr. President will do, because I’m sure that he must have also heard what the minister said and I expect that he’ll respond to that because it’s wrong.

    “I want to believe that the Mr. President I know and who I supported and I’m still supporting is an upright person who is always truthful and he’ll say the right thing and caution his minister, because I can’t believe that a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this time will come and add insult to our injury.

    “We are pained by what this man came out to say yesterday.”

    On the likely backlash of his protest against the killings in the state by the powers that be, he said he would continue to stick to the truth.

    “Whatever it is I say, it does not matter. As long as I’m on the side of the truth and doing the wish of my people, I’m satisfied. I don’t care about any gang-up. It doesn’t matter.

    “But I heard it; gang up to do this and that. But it doesn’t matter,” he said.

    The governor also said the death toll in Benue killings could be higher than 73.

    He expressed regrets that the herdsmen were also killing security personnel.

    “I’ve not got the complete figure, but there is a committee working on that. But even on the burial, I did say that the deaths were more than 73.

    Even yesterday, there were some killings in Guma, including a policeman. One policeman was wounded and one is still missing. You see, these people are joking.

    “If terrorists that are hired by herdsmen under the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that are known by the Federal Government have gone beyond killing our people who are civilians to killing security personnel, if security men are being killed in this manner, where is our safety? That is what the minister of Defence should be concerned about.

    “They know where these people are, so they are making me to believe that the Minister of Defence is also part of the conspiracy against Benue State, and is not about grazing, it is about occupation, taking over the land.

    “That is what Miyetti Allah said, and they have accepted that it should be so. This is not correct.”

    Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with security chiefs on Thursday, Dan-Ali blamed the recent killings in Benue State on the state’s anti-open grazing law.

  • Protest won’t stop Osinbajo panel on herdsmen/farmers clashes

    Protest won’t stop Osinbajo panel on herdsmen/farmers clashes

    The Yemi Osinbajo Committee on herdsmen / farmers clashes is pressing ahead with its assignment regardless of the recent objection of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to the membership of Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) of the panel.

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association’s rejection of  Ortom and Ishaku stemmed from their introduction of the anti-open grazing laws in their states.

    However, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande, said that the job of the committee was in  the interest of all Nigerians, especially all the communities and parties  affected by  the crises. 

    He said panel would ,therefore,leave no stone unturned to ensure peace and security of life and property in the affected communities.

    “Our job is to all Nigerians and in this case all affected parties and communities. The interest of the administration is peace and the first duty of government is to provide peace and security of life and property,”Akande said.

    “We note the views of all and welcome their right to their own positions. Government would also do its job to secure the wellbeing of all Nigerians including those who have expressed their opinions.

    “The Working Group has met once already and would continue to meet to ensure that all Nigerians live in peace and security.

    “The Group is made up of elected governors including those whose communities are affected. And we should not forget that all those serving in States as Governors and FG have sworn to protect the constitution. That is the guarantee by law that their actions would be fair and without fear or favour.

    “This crisis and the misunderstanding that attends it would be over under the Buhari administration by the special Grace of God.”

    The Osinbajo committee was set up by the last meeting of the National Economic Council towards finding solution to the killings in the affected communities.

  • Buhari: Killers of Benue farmers’ll be punished

    Buhari: Killers of Benue farmers’ll be punished

    Ortom insists no land for cattle colony in Benue

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to fish out the herdsmen who killed no fewer than 73 farmers in New Year’s Day in Benue State.

    Victims of the incident were buried last Thursday in Makurdi amid a nationwide outrage.

    Governor Samuel Ortom told reporters that the President gave the order during a meeting with the state’s leaders of thought on the security situation.

    At the meeting were Deputy Governor Benson Abounu, Tor Tiv Prof. James Ayatse, Ochi Idoma, former Senate President David Mark, Senator George Akume, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (retd.), Speaker Terkimbir Kyambe and Senator Joseph Waku, amog others.

    Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina quoted President Buhari as telling the delegation:

    “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished.

    “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your country men. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation.’’

    The President told the delegation that his administration had already begun a process of finding lasting solution to the perennial challenge of herdsmen conflict with farmers and communities around the country.

    The Tor-Tiv, said his domain had been thrown into mourning due to the incessant attacks.

    “We want you to put an end to the gruesome situation.’’

    Ortom said Benue leaders demanded that the killer-herdsmen be arrested and prosecuted.

    His words: “The situation as at today is relatively calm, although there are pockets of issues. For the past five days we have witnessed two killings compared to what was happening before. Other places are relatively calm. The security men and the IGP and the Benue State Government have been working day and night to ensure that we bring the situation under control and stop the killings.

    “There are still security issues from one town to the other, like some few  days ago we had an uproar in Makurdi Local Government, headquarters of Benue State where some hoodlums wanted to take advantage. That is one of the things we have discovered in trying to create confusion so that they can go in there and loot.

    ‘We have made it known that for us in Benue State is that there is no room for anyone taking laws into his hands. It is expected even when you are offended or someone violates the law, the best thing to do is to report, by that we will be able to meet our sanctions on such people. But when you take laws into your hand,  you are inviting anarchy and we will not accept this.

    “So we are here to appreciate Mr. President for providing security. Yesterday (Sunday), we also received relief materials based on his directives to NEMA and is being shared among the five IDP camps that we have in Benue State.

    “But beyond that we made strong appeal to Mr. President to arrest those people that perpetrated this act, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, because they are not above the law. They made inciting statements against our people and they came and perpetrated this act. We are law abiding citizens; we are not going to let our people go out of control.”

    The governor was full of praises for Buhari. He said: “We believe in the leadership of Mr.  President because he is disciplined and is an upright man and we believe he will be able to sanction this people and he did assure us that there is no room for impunity, the law of the land must take its cause. So, those perpetrators…; the IG was at the meeting; he directed the IG to arrest those who perpetrated this act and prosecute them according to the law.

    “And he assured us that he would do everything possible to ensure that Benue State lives peacefully and there are no further killings. So, basically, that is why we came to see Mr. President.”

    Asked if the issue of arming militia groups came up, Ortom said that the allegation was false.

    He said: “It is not true. I see that as distraction, completely from the main issue that we are talking about. These people were not even arrested in Benue State. If we are being killed in the magnitude that we saw and we had weapons of what I saw in the media, I know that five AK 47s can sack a whole community. So if we had such weapons and I as governor my local government had been attacked and people killed, property destroyed and so on, so will I go and sponsor militia in Taraba State? I organised an amnesty programme, which saw  the disarmament of over  800 youths and more than 700 weapons were turned in which were destroyed in the presence of security men and the UN and the committee on small weapons and light arms from the Presidency.

    “So it is not true; it is false. It is meant to turn facts away from the reality that is happening on ground.”

    Ortom said the meeting with the President was at the instance of Benue State as he defended the anti-open grazing law made by his administration but which the Fuluni are opposed to.

    “The law is a win win; it provides security for  the herdsmen and the farmers. And as far as we are concerned the implementation of the law is going on smoothly.

    “We have also arrested more than 18 herdsmen who violated the law and they were arraigned before the court of law.”

    Ortom said that the state  is open to suggestions from the Federal Government on finding a lasting solution.

    “The Minister of Agriculture happens to be a son of the soil. There are many options that are put on the table.

    “Like I told you the last time I came here, I did not understand what cattle colonies meant. Today, I was privileged to meet him and he did explain to me that a colony is many ranches in one place, restricted in one place. So, for us in Benue State, there is no 10,000 hectares; they are looking for 5,000 hectares, we have no 10,000 hectares to allow it for that kind of a thing to take plac.”

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai said the Federal Government had very clear plans to end herders/farmers clashes in the country.

    The governor told reporters after laying a wreath to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Kaduna that the issue was being tackled head-on.

    “We met with the Minister of Interior. There are very clear plans to curtail these issues. I  want to assure everyone, the President and other security agencies are doing their best.’’

     

  • Buhari, Fulani factor and the Benue killings

    Among the states that have been badly hit since beginning of this year are Benue and Rivers states.

    The two states have recorded gruesome killings of its citizen’s right from the New Year crossover night.

    While those killed in Rivers state were believed to have died from the activities of militants, the killings in Benue State were suspected to be done by killer herdsmen, an occupation most done by Fulanis.

    Even though other states like Kaduna, Taraba and Adamawa have also had their shares of gruesome killings in this New Year, the main focus of this write-up is on Benue State.

    Benue State, alone, has lost more than seventy-one of its citizens to the suspected killer herdsmen this year.

    The blame of the atrocities in Benue State is put at the doorstep of the Fulanis, who are mostly involved in cattle rearing from one location to the other.

    Series of similar attacks have taken place in various parts of the state as far back as the year 2013.

    The accusing fingers for the killings in the state have remained pointed in the direction of the herdsmen, who have opposed the newly introduced anti-grazing law in Benue state.

    Not a few Nigerians have expressed worries over the trend, as they have accused the Federal Government, especially under President Muhammadu Buhari, of handling the deadly attacks with kid gloves.

    To many of them, the Federal Government was turning a blind eye to the attacks in the state in the past two years of President Buhari’s government.

    Unlike what is happening in Benue State, they even pointed out that the Buhari’s Government does not hesitate to handle any other killings in any other parts of the country with the seriousness they deserve once the Fulani herdsmen are not the culprits.

    There have also been calls from some quarters for the killer herdsmen to be declared terrorist group, which is yet to be heeded.

    Some of those Nigerians have also attributed the attitude of the Federal security agencies to killings in Benue State to the fact that President Buhari is a Fulani man.

    They believed that by his actions or inactions, he was indirectly supporting his tribesmen.

    The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who could not hold back tears as a result of one of the recent killings, was reported also to have blamed the poor intervention of the Federal Security agencies for the onslaught.

    He was said to be particularly unhappy with the President’s silence over the matter.

    The governor’s position as reported, however, was different when he spoke with State House journalists at the Presidential Villa last week Tuesday.

    On allegations that he was blocked from seeing Mr. President on the issue, Ortom had said: “I have never accused anyone of blocking me from seeing Mr. President. I am seeing Mr. President. I told him when this incident occurred I spoke to Mr. President on phone and followed it up.

    “I know what it entails being a President, even as governor most times I am not with my phone, people cannot access me the way it used to be talkless of a President.

    “I didn’t say that and I have not said it. The truth is that I have access to Mr. President anytime I want, I speak to him on phone and I see him personally. I requested to speak to him on phone that day because I couldn’t come to Abuja and he gave me the opportunity and today I am here and I have seen him,” he said.

    A fact sheet issued by the President’s Media Office last Thursday night also exonerated President Buhari from other allegations.

    Titled ‘FACTSHEET: Federal Response to the Attacks and Killings by Herdsmen in Benue and other States’, it reads: “Background: Insinuations and allegations that the attacks and killings are happening because President Buhari is Fulani are both unkind and incorrect.

    “These attacks long predated the Buhari Government. In 2013 no fewer than nine cases of herdsmen attacks were recorded in Benue State alone, with more than 190 people killed. In 2014 there were no fewer than 16 recorded attacks, in Benue, which claimed more than 230 victims.

    “Between January and May 2015, six attacks left more than 300 people dead, again in Benue State alone.

    “This historical context is important for a proper understanding of the issue, and to avoid unnecessarily politicising what should be regarded and dealt with as acts of criminality.

    “These attacks have been a longstanding issue, and successive governments have struggled to contain the situation.

    “The Buhari Administration is more than fully committed to bringing the cycle of violence to an end, prosecuting the attackers, and preventing further killings and attacks.

    “The security agencies have standing instructions to arrest and prosecute any and all persons found with illegal arms.” it said

    Highlighting the Federal Interventions, it added: “The recent killings in Benue and Taraba States have elicited the following Federal responses:

    “President Buhari has met with the Governor of Benue State on the matter, to assure him of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting farmers and communities.

    “President Buhari has directed the Inspector General of Police to relocate to Benue State.

    “On Monday January 8, 2018, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, convened a security meeting on the issue, bringing together Federal and State government officials: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Heads of security agencies, and the Governors of the most affected States: Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Taraba.

    “On Wednesday January 10, 2018, the IG held a Stakeholders engagement with the Benue State Government, elders, community, religious and traditional leaders etc.

    “Since the first week of January, immediately following the January 1 attacks, the Inspector General of Police has deployed the following to the affected areas:

    “Ten (10) Units of PMF, Police Special Forces, Counter Terrorism Units, Conventional Policemen, Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams and Police Aerial Surveillance Teams (Police Helicopters).”

    It went on: “The Nigerian Army has deployed Special Forces to Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa States. In Benue State, eight (8) suspected herdsmen are in Police custody over the recent killings, and are currently being prosecuted.

    “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is working to establish cattle colonies across the country, in 2018. These colonies will provide grass and water for the cattle and education and healthcare facilities for herders. They will also have Agro-Rangers deployed to secure the facilities,” it stated.

    Security and safety of the lives of all Nigerians, irrespective of where they originate from, should continue to be accorded top priority.

    The government agencies should also be seen to swiftly responding, at all times, to threats to life in any part of the country without any trace of partiality or bias.

    Everything should be done to separate and set aside politics from efforts to safeguard the nation.

     

  • Video: No land land for cattle in Benue – Ortom

    Video: No land land for cattle in Benue – Ortom

    Governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom says his state has no land for the establishment of cattle colony in the state as being advocated by the Federal Government.

    The meeting comes after recent outbreak of violent attacks on communities in Benue by Fulani herdsmen.

    Ortom said this on Monday while while addressing state house correspondent after he and Benue leaders held a close-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa.

    He also reveal that herdsmen have began occupying lands and issuing threats to owners of lands.

    “Like I told you the last time I came here, I did not understand what colonies meant. Today, I was privileged to meet Audu Ogbeh, who is a proud son of the state and he did explain to me that a colony is many ranches restricted to in one place”.

    [jwplayer nivLVV3L]

    “So, for us in Benue state, we don’t have 10,000 hectares, they are looking for 5,000 hectares. We have no land for that kind of a thing to take place. So, people are free. Other states have the land but we in Benue state, we don’t have and that was what led to us enacting the anti-grazing law.”

    “And until this time I speak to you, they are still issuing out threats and it is not just anti-grazing law, it is occupation because the manner with which they come and invade the man and take over the land it is something”.

    “I am not sure willing to join issues with anyone. We are law-abiding citizens, we are not going to let our people go out of control. We have made it known that for us in Benue state, is that there is no room for anyone taking laws into his hands. It is expected even when you are offended or someone violates the law, the best thing to do is to report. But when you take laws into your hand you are inviting anarchy and we will not accept this.”

  • Ortom lied on Benue killings – Osinbajo

    Ortom lied on Benue killings – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Monday expressed shock at claim by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, that he (Osinbajo) was warned ahead of the January 1 killings in the state.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo described as “a terrible falsehood” claim that he was never informed by the governor or anyone else about the killings.

    The statement reads: “Governor Ortom wrote to the Vice President, then Acting President on 7th June 2017 protesting a newspaper publication where the leadership of Miyetti Allah was reported to have stated that it was opposed to the open grazing prohibition law of the state and that they would mobilise to resist the law.

    “The Miyetti Allah had written to the Vice President on the 5th of June 2017 on the same law protesting several sections of the law.

    “The governor went on to say that the leadership of Miyetti Allah should be arrested because they used words such as ‘wicked, obnoxious and repressive,’ to describe the law, and because these were ‘utterances that are capable of undermining the peace.

    “The Vice President subsequently met with the governor, discussed the matter and the security situation in the state and then ordered law enforcement agencies to be on the alert to prevent any attacks or violence. This was in June 2017.”

    The statement noted that in the said letter written by the governor, there was no mention of any threat to any specific one of the 23 local governments of the state.

    It said the best the law enforcement agencies could do then was to await information or intelligence of an imminent attack and none of such came.

     

  • Police arrest 59 suspects over Wadata crisis in Benue

    Police arrest 59 suspects over Wadata crisis in Benue

    Benue Police command said it had arrested 59 persons in connection with the recent cult-related crises in some parts of Makurdi, the state capital.

    Several people were injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed during the crisis.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Moses Yamu, made the disclosure in an interview on Monday in Makurdi.

    He said the command had already deployed additional personnel to the affected parts of the town to restore peace and and order as well as to check the spread of the crisis.

    Read also: Benue: Soldiers deployed as Hausa youths protest

    The PPRO said the arrested suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

    He advised Makurdi residents not to panic as security operatives were in control of the situation.

    Gov. Samuel Ortom, had on Sunday during an emergency stakeholders meeting in Makurdi, appealed to parents and guardians, to advise their children and wards against involvement in cult activities.

    He warned that his administration would neither condone cult activities nor spare anyone culpable of the act.

    Security operatives are now patrolling the streets to prevent further break down of law and order.

    Shops and other business places however, remained closed in the affected area.

    NAN

  • Ortom warns against reprisal attack

    Ortom warns against reprisal attack

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday warned against reprisal attacks by people of the state, saying such would aggravate the security situation in the land.

    He gave the warning in Makurdi while addressing Christians at a prayer and fasting program for people of Makurdi and Guma, organized by the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse.

    Governor Ortom said vengeance belongs to God and that two wrongs do not make a right, adding that reprisals would also put the lives of innocent indigenes residing elsewhere in danger.

    He urged the people to serve God in truth and sincerity, stressing that he would get divine help to surmount the current challenges confronting his administration.

    He urged the people to respect and obey their leaders and at all levels so that society would be steered in the right direction.

    The Tor Tiv appealed to his subjects to return to God, even as he prayed for prosperity, political and economic advancement in Nigeria.

     

     

  • Benue: A ‘Satanic’ Affliction Upon A Race

    Benue: A ‘Satanic’ Affliction Upon A Race

    BY Audu Entonu

    Certainly, these are not the best of times for Benue people. There is pain, sorrow and lamentations on the land.  A land once purified by the blessings and peace of our ancestors has become a killing field. The bloodbath is abhorring and the cries so loud and trenchant. Everybody is feeling the pains now, especially, in Tiv land and indeed, all Benue.

    Unfortunately though, those who are indifferent, hardened and unsympathetic to the mood in the land are Benue’s political leaders cum gladiators’, led by the Executive Governor of Benue state,  Hon. Samuel Ortom and  his clique of power mongers. They are unperturbed and undaunted by preserving invented schemes that have made people of the state permanent guests in the kingdom of sorrows. Insofar as it service their personal political interests and lubricates a repulsive ego of triumphalism on the political turf, all is fair.

    So, they are mindless and irreligiously non-challant   to these afflictions,  the unconscionable pursuit of power has wrought on the people with the harvest of tears. Religion is key to our lives as Africans. But most times, we use it in negation in the quest for power.  It keeps reminding me very sadly about the days preceding the ascension of  Ortom  to the seat of Governor of Benue.

    He wielded and flaunted assorted platitudes ensconced in very touchy Biblical verses. He spoke of visions and revelations from God Almighty about crowning him Governor of the state in his life. He covenanted with the people, through God that he would rule the state with the fear of God.

    He wailed on the streets and in every community at campaign fora;  he cried loudly while standing on the sacred altars of God in churches, reeling  out tons of afflictions of his people, whom  God has promised to mandate him with power to remedy.

    However, if all prophecies as proclaimed by Governor Ortom were false, cooked or contrived, at least, the rough guess of enthroning him Governor of the state has come to pass. Ortom has been Governor of Benue state for nearly three years today.

    But I am baffled and nervous that the Governor has not solved even one of the afflictions of his people, which he claimed, God ordained him to resolve.  And he does not appear worried at this glaring violation of the covenant with his people or how his actions offend God and the multifaceted failures of his administration.

    At best, Governor Ortom has overlooked these afflictions; aggravated the severity of some of them and created fresh ones with killer venom and devastations. Peace has deserted the land he holds sway as Governor.

    Alien afflictions of the people have reached frightening new fathoms and what we hear at organized and partisan fora is the necessity of Governor Ortom continuing in office.  He bought this idea from day-one in office. So, he has unceasingly sold the seed of discord, violence and bloodbath to impoverish the people economically and psychologically with infinite sorrows. This is practiced ploy to divert attention from his concealed, but deviously explored plots to perpetuate himself in power.

    Its common psychology that when you destabilize and devastate a people,  with killings or deaths, they have no time to think about politics. They are plunged in an endless orgy of mourning and bemoaning of their beloved lost ones.

    And so, the “smart” politician like Ortom would seize the opportunity to bandy another round of dubious prophecies alleging it emanated from God to stealthily grab the mandate again.  To him, the sacred name of God Almighty is an effective tranquilizer on the people,   to blend and raise a political platform of deception of people.

    This has been the brief history of Governor Ortom’s political sojourn in Benue state.  And it is easy to decipher from the outset when he ventured into the governorship race in 2015. The manner of his rejection and eventually ouster through a failed nomination as flagbearer of the PDP, his original political party on which platform he contested governorship was a key eye opener to Benue people. But they ignored the signs of God directly speaking to them.

    Governor Ortom dissatisfied and irretrievable bent on actualizing a satanic ambition to rule Benue, defected overnight. And in less than 24 hours, the equally cursed political goons of Benue; souls who drink and eat from the same shrine of darkness like Ortom handed him the APC party nomination ticket on a platter of gold.  His new handlers subdued and undermined all other viable contestants to embrace Governor Ortom.

    The manner of this emergence was very ungodly. And God  exposed  Ortom  to emerge the  APC governorship flagbearer through this style  to allow the people sense the evil of tomorrow. But once again, Benue the people took no special notice by faulting this process and rejecting him at the polls.

    They overwhelmingly voted him at the polls and consciously planted a King  Pharaoh to rule over them. At daybreak, the people realized the terrible mistake and attempted to fight back to reclaim their mandate.  But the dark forces again prevailed with interventions and eventually a court verdict foisted Governor Ortom on Benue with a legal seal.

    And it did not take long before the people started harvesting the results of their tenacious disobedience to God’s command and signs. Therefore, Ortom has manifested everything God only in words; but everything Lucifer in actions in the administration of the state.   What we harvest in Benue under Governor Ortom is endless bloodbath, massacres,   sorrow and pains in varied and sophisticated forms.

    I know Ortom’s supporters are likely to still insist that God anointed him King over Benue. But truly God Almighty, we ask you in tears rhetorically and in humble supplications’ that if Ortom was Your true messenger, why had he to cheat or apply criminal schemes to ascend to power in 2015?  Now, we are saddled with afflictions!

    Oh God Almighty, when will these afflictions end in our land?  Have we wronged or hurt You so deeply that you cannot forgive us?  Why are You still consenting to the afflictions Governor Ortom has imposed on Benue people?

    Today, Oh Lord our God, hundreds of your children starve to bed; their children cannot go school; we cannot afford medical bills for common ailments such as malaria fever and people are dying quietly because of sufferings. And life is generally, very bleak and meaningless to us because the man, who claimed You anointed him Governor has deliberately refused to pay our salaries.

    Oh Lord, it is a Biblical injunction You handed down to us through the Prophets that a labourer deserves his wages. In Benue under Governor Ortom, we labour day and night, but he does not consider us worthy of our wages.

    As if these afflictions to Benue people, akin to what King Pharaoh did to the people of Israel in Egypt are not enough, Governor has persistently increased this yoke of burden on us. The Governor arms our youths against the visitors in our midst.  His armament of the Livestock Guards and Civilian JTF, which he sustains with monthly stipends, is worrisome. It  is just a decoy to blur suspicion, by  getting  these idle youths infused and familiarized with remote communities in order to use them for the 2019 elections.

    Again, like civil servants, he has refused to pay them the paltry N15,000 monthly stipends for months. And an armed hungry youth is like a lion and a potential risk  to his community and sponsors. So, they probably,  went berserk, instigating the killings which have become another dark chapter in our beleaguered history.

    Least, I be misconstrued! The killing of Tiv peasant farmers by herdsmen is condemnable and unacceptable. No sane society can condone such acts of aberrations’. Again, no amount of provocation is enough to justify the crude and gruesome termination of the life of a neighbor or any other human being. It offends both religious and secular laws.

    But the snag in the whole absurd drama is the determination of Governor Ortom to blur the truth; to lie to the people of Benue and to mortgage his conscience for political expediency in his satanic lust for political power. He turns around to shed crocodile tears, boasting of dying for his people. These are all fake posturings to curry undeserved sympathy from Benue people still ignorant of the intricacies of the grand designs  behind the scenes.   Or ask me,  did  Governor Ortom ever weep when the same youths he armed differently used the weapons to wipe out his personal aides and notable indigenes of the state from Benue Northeast, to Benue North West and Benue South? What has he done to curb recurrence?

    We shall be fooling ourselves, if we seem to perceive the current crisis; the killings, the tensions and other acts of lawlessness entrenched in the state, without rumination on these deep insights.  Governor Ortom is not new to public administration, having started as a council chairman. He is so versed in governance and security protocols to have armed any militia for a genuine purpose, as law enforcers, without the consent, collaboration and guidance of the appropriate security authorities.

    The result is what we regrettably have today on our hands- the senseless bloodletting. Let Governor Ortom be bold enough to tell Benue the truth and confess his sins against the people, as propelled by weird political ambitions.

    Entonu is a retired staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

    He sent in  this piece from Otukpo, Benue State.

  • I cautioned Ortom on anti-grazing law – Lalong

    I cautioned Ortom on anti-grazing law – Lalong

    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, said on Thursday he cautioned his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, on the anti-open grazing bill when the idea was mooted last year.

    He said Ortom should have first explored the ranching system and make adjustments where necessary, rather than making laws to isolate some section of the society.

    With implementation of the law, over 70 persons have been killed this year by Fulani herdsmen.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Lalong said one of the things that sustained peace in Plateau State was his wide consultation with the people on the ranching policy.

    He said majority of Plateau citizens have bought into the idea and have voluntarily donated free lands for the pilot scheme to take off.

    He said: “At the end of last year something happened but I’m not saying it was between herdsmen and farmers, it was as result of criminal activities and so we focused on fishing out those criminals. Most of the crisis that happened was not on the farm, it was just pockets of Christians and Muslims killing one another and so we addressed those issues, we are handling it.

    “Let me also say that plateau was one of those that embraced ranching. I had a lot of opposition initially when I said Plateau was keying into ranching. Some states said they don’t have land but I said whether I have land or not we have to provide land for ranching because that I see as solution to the conflicts. In Plateau we have gone far, we have donated land voluntarily, many people donated land for ranching.

    “Last year, I sent a team of 12 to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, they spent almost a week there to study and the team was headed by former Vice Chancellor of University of Jos, Prof. Onazi. We went round all the communities in Plateau, it took three months and Plateau people including the Fulanis accepted that we must embrace ranching.

    “Ranching as a concept is a policy and there are states realizing the importance of the policy. I cannot wake up like some people said last year that I should go and do anti-grazing law. And I asked anti-grazing law for what? We are talking about ranching, we are talking about development of livestock business and I cannot use the word anti to start driving away people who are interested. It is for those who are interested to come and get involved in it.

    “Secondly, I can’t implement anti-grazing law. There are levels of implementation which will require government intervention, provision of ranchers and thirdly, when you are talking of ranching it is a component of agriculture business you will also require subsidy. Subsidy must come from federal and state governments and by the time we develop it and put every structure on ground, then we can bring laws to regulate the implementation. So I don’t want to jump one step before the other.”

    When asked why he did not advise Ortom about this, he said: “To be honest with you I did. I told the governor of Benue when he was doing the law, I said look, why don’t you tread softly, just be careful, take other steps before you start implementation.

    “But you see states are different, his concepts are different and for us on the Plateau they are different. I said I will not do the law before implementation. I have not developed the ranching areas so I cannot go and say I put a law, to stop who? If I stop the people what is the alternative?

    “So I said do consultations allow the people to understand and buy into the concepts.”