I Disagree Mr President, No Land For Grazing Routes In Benue – Ortom

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s defiance over Buhari’s insistence on establishing grazing routes in most states of the federation, the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has the said review and disagreed with the Federal Government in the State.

Through his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, 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 in Yandev, Gboko Local Government Area during the burial of Emmanuel Amaatimin, said Benue people reject the policy in its entirety.

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.”

Ortom wondered why Buhari has not publicly condemned the activities of herdsmen, saying he should be the President for all and not only Fulanis.