Benue will offer Fulani herders land for ranching – Ortom

… insists no going back on open-grazing ban

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says the state will provide land for any Fulani who intends to do livestock business through ranching.

He stated this in Abuja at the 72nd birthday of Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, and dismissed the insinuation that he was on a warpath with the Fulani.

He said historically, the people of the state had always been friends with the Fulani.

The governor reiterated that his government would not back down on the anti-grazing law, stressing that ranching remained the best practice.

Ortom spoke through the state’s Commissioner for Education, Dennis Ityavyar, at the event organised by former students, friends and colleagues of the celebrant.

He said, ”The Tiv people are historically the friends of the Fulani and I like to submit that friendship still exists. And so, I warn those people, who are either using politics or are criminals 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.

“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 a Professor of Theatre for Development, called on well-meaning Nigerians to say the truth to power always.

He said those scared of speaking the truth to power could do that through Nollywood actors, who will put up the stories in acting and present it to the leaders in parable.