Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State

By Richard Elesho

The Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has berated the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali describing him as one of those misinforming President Muhammad Bunari about the security situation in the country..

Ali was on Thursday reported to have identified anti open grazing law as immediate cause of killings in Benue. He was also quoted to have said, ‘Communities and other people must learn how to accept foreigners within their enclave.’

Ortom who reacted to these statements on Friday described them as unfortunate and said he was sorry for President Buhari for sorounding himself with a bad adviser like the Defence Minister.

While the governor said that he would not surrender his state to foreigners he however asked the minister to move ahead and hand over his own state to foreigners.

He noted that the summary of the minister’s outburst was to grant immunity to herdsmen and their cows in the country.

According to Ortom, ‘ I heard a statement credited to Minister of Defense saying the killing in Benue was as a result of the anti open grazing law. I can’t see him saying that kind of thing. If he said so, I would have asked him what he has done when Fulani herdsmen are going about with AK47.

“I will not surrender my land to foreigners. You can go and do that in your own state. It’s sad that those who are supposed to be assisting the President have instead, turned round to misinform him all for their selfish interest.”

“As a state we are ready to accommodate those who are genuine and come to our state legally, whether foreigners to do business, but if you are in Benue, you must respect the laws of the land and obey them.”

“I see the statement as an insult to the collective leadership and sensibility’ of the people of Nigeria, for a minister of defence to ask Nigerians to accommodate foreigners who illegally enter the country to cause problems.

He submitted that all the conflicting statements by officials at the national level amounted to diverting attention of Nigerians from the constant attacks of herdsmen on Nigerians.

“It’s amazing that the federal government is playing to the gallery instead of confronting the issue that is capable of consuming the whole country. Let federal come and show me where I own 6000 militia. I was the first governor to disarm militia and criminals. How about the herdsmen who are openly displaying weapons? Why have they not arrested them?

“The other day, they said that those responsible for killings in Benue were Islamic State in West Africa, ISWA, all these are diversionary by government.”

“I am now beginning to see that they have given immunity that is the prerogative of President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors to herdsmen who kill and their cattle. “Cattle in Nigeria now have more immunity than humans, this is very unfortunate.

The governor reiterated the stand of the people of the state to go ahead with the anti open grazing law no matter whose of is gored. “No one can intimidate us to chicken out of the initiative. The people of Benue will go on with it. If you cannot obey our laws, then don’t come here at all.”

He also advised the president to always caution his cabinet members from making inflammatory statements.

“President Bunari is a truthful person, unfortunately, he is surrounded with wrong people, let him caution them from making statement that can cause problem in the country. I do not think the Minister spoke the mind of the President on this issue. I believe he spoke for himself.he concluded.