Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said that he would not hesitate to give any Fulani man who intends to do his livestock business in the State through the use of ranching.
He also accused some people of fueling farmer/herders clashes in the State using politics, adding that people of the state historically, have always been friends with the Fulani.
- You beg herdsmen but threaten Igbo with civil war- Omokri slams Buhari
- Amotekun arrests another 100 Cows in Ondo, arrest 9 herders
- Don’t taste our venom- Ohanaeze warns Miyetti Allah over operating Fulani security in Igbo land
Ortom spoke in Abuja during weekend through his Commissioner of Education, Dennis Ityavyar during 72nd birthday of a former Nigeria Ambassador to Mexico, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, which was organised in his honour by his former students, friends and colleagues.
The governor reiterated that his government would not go back or rescinded his decision on the anti-grazing law that is already being implemented in the state, noting that ranching still remain best practices across the world.
He said, ”The Tiv people are historically the friends of the Fulanis and I like to submit that, that friendship still exists. And so, I warn those people, who are either using politics or those who are criminals and trying to sell what’s wrong to people.
”His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom has explained again and again that we, Benue people are not against Fulani. We’re still friends, and what other people are sell is not accepted.
”He has taken a decision now to be deliberate in explaining to people that the establishment of the anti-open grazing bill or law is a very progressive idea which is done in almost all countries of the world.
”Those who have a lot of cattle are still using ranching, and any Fulani person who wants to establish a ranching in Benue will have the land. Even if our ‘Chairman’ wants to start a ranch, he will get the land today.
”We will give you land and start the ranching today, so that people will see it as model and wherever we go, we want to correct the impression because if you read history, you will see that we have always been friends with Fulani”.
In an interview with journalists shortly after the programme, the celebrant, who is Professor of Theatre for Development, called on well-meaning Nigerians to say the truth to power always in order to right the wrongs in our society.
According to him, anybody scared to speak the truth to power can do that through Nollywood actors who will put up the stories in acting and present it to the leaders in parable.
