Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused the
Presidency of “a hidden agenda.”
Ortom made the remark while faulting President Muhammadu
Buhari’s insistence on grazing reserves.
The governor said that the Federal government’s insistence
on grazing reserves in the country was a misplaced priority.
A statement by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s spokesman had said the
Federal Government would next month commence rehabilitation work on grazing
reserves in the country.
However, a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver
Akase, the governor said: “We read a statement issued by Senior Special
Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in which
he said the Federal Government will commence rehabilitation work on grazing
reserves in the country next month.
“We find the move not only shocking and curious but also a
misplaced priority. At a time the country is worried about the worsening
security situation and many Nigerians are calling for national dialogue to
address the fundamental issues that have led to the present state of affairs,
the Federal Government considers the reopening of cattle grazing routes as the
only solution available to it.
“It is now clear that there is a hidden agenda which only
the Presidency knows. Otherwise, all the regions of the country have accepted
the fact that open grazing of animals is no longer fashionable and should be
banned to pave way for ranching, yet, the government at the centre is insistent
that grazing reserves/cattle routes must be created across the country.”
On February 9, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF)
met and agreed that the current system of herding mainly by open grazing is no
longer sustainable, in view of growing urbanisation and population of the
country.
The Forum consequently resolved to sensitize herders on the
need to adopt ranching as the new method of animal husbandry.
The 17 Governors of Southern Nigeria rose from their meeting
in Asaba on May 11 also this year, with a ban on open grazing in the entire
region. The Southern Governors equally adopted ranching as the alternative
method of rearing animals.
However, Ortom added: “As it stands, the Presidency is the
lone hand pushing for the continuation of open grazing and the return of cattle
routes of 1950s and 60s. The Presidency has, by its endorsement of open
grazing, emboldened armed herders who lay claim to all lands in Nigeria as
belonging to Fulani, hence their invasion of farming communities and killing of
original owners of such lands.”
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