Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has stated that there is no grazing routes in Benue as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari that all grazing routes should be opened.
President Muhammadu Buhari had directed a review of grazing routes and grazing reserves in 25 States of the Federation with a charge to the Committee to handle the assignment with “dispatch.”
Ortom, who spoke on Friday, August 20, 2021 in Yandev, Gboko Local Government Area during the burial of Emmanuel Amaatimin, said Benue people reject the policy in its entirety. He clearly stated that there is no grazing reserves or cattle routes in Benue State to be opened, saying: “Grazing reserves are not in the Constitution. He said there is anti-open grazing law in Benue State and anyone who contravenes it would be arrested and prosecuted.
According to him: “Let the President know that Benue State has the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in place and we are not going to allow any other thing outside this in Benue.
“In the first place, the Federal Government and the President do not have the right to preside over the land of Benue State.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows Governors to hold in trust the land that belongs to the States.
“If the President wants land in Benue, he will seek my permission and I will in turn seek the consent of Benue people.
“The President cannot say that cattle routes and grazing areas will be designated in Benue State. We say no to it and I say that on behalf of Benue people.”
“It could also be recalled that the National Economic Council, NEC, had also unanimously adopted ranching as the best method of livestock breeding for the Country. It is, therefore, shocking to see the Federal Government turning around to establish Fulani herdsmen settlements in some states, including Benue, contrary to the position of NEC”.
Ortom wondered why Buhari has not publicly condemned the activities of herdsmen, saying he should be the President for all and not only Fulanis.
InTv reports that during the National Council on Agriculture summit which took place in Owerri, Imo State in April this year, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture attempted to impose Ruga settlement patterns on the States but the Benue State delegation seized the opportunity to remind the summit that Benue State has a law on ranching which has phased out open grazing. No one at the summit put forth an alternative method of animal husbandry to counter the State’s presentation.
