Written By: Oghorobada Stanley
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to plunge the Country into crisis with his determination to ensure “that grazing Reserves are established across the Country even when Nigerians have openly kicked against the policy”
Governor Ortom was reacting to a recent statement from the Presidency that Buhari has approved recommendations of a committee to review the grazing Reserves policy with a resolve to kickstart “368 grazing sites across 25 States in the Country”
Gov. Ortom made this known in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.
According to the statement, Ortom stressed that the Buhari-led government has placed more priority on the welfare of cattle than the masses who voted him into office.
The statement read, “In a country where insecurity has reached an all-time high with hundreds being killed by armed herdsmen, bandits, and other terrorists, the Presidency is only bordered about animals and their safety and is deploying all machinery and arsenals of government to impose grazing reserves and cattle routes on Nigerians. This is unacceptable!
“The Buhari administration has turned a blind eye to the unimaginable levels of encroachment on lands belonging to Nigerians by cattle. Mr President has never come out even once to condemn activities of herdsmen and the attacks they visit on innocent people. The only time the President is heard speaking about atrocities of the herders is when he defends them.
“It is now clear that the Presidency wants to plunge the country into avoidable crisis. Otherwise, what is the justification for President Buhari’s insistence that grazing reserves be established across the country when Nigerians have openly kicked against the policy and have embraced ranching in place of open grazing?” he stated.
