Inthis interview with newsmen at the Government House in Makurdi last
Friday, Governor Samuel Ortom stated that comments credited to the
minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali about the anti- open grazing law was
an indication that the minister was part of the conspiracy against
Benue State.
The governor who also noted that he was
aware of gang-up against him however said he was unperturbed as long as
he is standing on the side of truth.
What’s your reaction to comments
credited to the minister of Defence that Benue and Taraba Killings are
as a result of Anti-Open Grazing Laws?
It’s 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.
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
States?
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 Security (DSS) that it was the Islamic State of West
Africa, ISWA Terrorist Group Organisation that is taking over and we
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
to even cattle, so cattle in Nigeria have immunity more than human
beings.
This is unfortunate and I look forward to him apologising to us
and retract what he said because it is an insult on our collective
leadership.