REports from Ortom and Buhari meeting, says Benue remains committed for united Nigeria

The people of Benue state are committed
to united Nigeria according to the state
governor, Samuel Ortom
- He said President Buhari was “very
passionate’’ about the plight of the IDPs
and had assured him that federal
government would swing into action to
ensure their full rehabilitation
-Ortom, however, emphasized that Nigeria
must adopt global best practices and
modern ways of animal husbandry
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue has said
that government and people of the state
remained committed to a united Nigeria.
He said that the state would continue to
partner with the federal government to
ensure peaceful co-existence in the state and
the country as a whole.
Ortom stated this when he briefed State
House correspondents after a closed door
meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari
at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 26.

The governor, who disclosed that he was in
the villa to thank the president for the
condolence visit he paid to Benue state after
the recent killings in the state, said he also
intimated him of socio-economic situation in
the state.
“I also reminded him about the request of
Benue people when he paid that visit and to
assure him that Benue remains committed to a
united Nigeria and to work with him in
ensuring that we collaborate with the Federal
Government to provide security for lives and
property in Nigeria.
“I also intimated him of the plight of over
175,000 IDPs that we have in eight camps.
“They have expressed their desire to go back
home,’’ he said.
The governor stated that Buhari was “very
passionate’’ about the plight of the IDPs and
had assured him that federal government
would swing into action to ensure their full
rehabilitation.
He said: “It is quite assuring that it will be
well and I want to thank the President for the
support he has shown. I know that this crisis
did not just start during his tenure, it precedes
this government.
“When I was serving as minister, my ancestral
home was destroyed, 53 people were killed and
this was in 2013 when president was not yet
here.
“But I think that what is important is the NEC
sub-committee headed by the vice president
which is doing the needful.
“I believe that the meeting we held and the
subsequent ones that we are going to hold will
definitely proffer a solution to this perennial
problem and we sought it out ones and for all.
“But we remain committed to our people and
our ranching law and I believe that that is the
way forward.’’
He emphasized that Nigeria must adopt
global best practices and modern ways of
animal husbandry so as to check the
persistent farmers/herdsmen clashes across
the country.
According to the governor, this has become
necessary in view of the fact that the over 20
million cattle in Nigeria cannot cope with
open grazing.
“There is no doubt about that and a solution
has to be created just as it is done in India
with over 300 million herds of cattle, in Brazil
250 million herds of cattle and in America 300
million but yet, there has not been clashes like
we have witnessed in Nigeria with just 20
million cattle.
“And I think that for us in Benue, we are
winning because even Miyetti Allah has
accepted that truly, ranching remains the best
option.
“And we commend them and we will work
with them to see how our law can wear human
face to ensure that we have a win-win for all.
“And you will recall that the issue of cattle
rustling is very major problem to the cattle
rearers in Nigeria.
“Ranching will minimize this problem in
Nigeria; it will minimize attacks on farms and
encroachment on farms. So, we encourage
everyone to work with us to ensure that we
achieve this,’ ’ he added.
Ortom reassured that his administration
would continue to collaborate with security
agencies to check the activities of militia
groups in the state.
On recent comment by former minister of
defence, retired Gen. T. Y. Danjuma that
people should defend themselves from
possible attacks by aggressors, the governor
said Danjuma was misrepresented.
“I’m not sure that if listened to him very well.
It is a misrepresentation of what the former
minister said.
“He did not tell anybody to take up arms. He
only said that people should protect
themselves.
“Of course, you know that self-preservation is
the first law of nature.
“You can’t just wait in your house and allow
someone to come and kill you. You can resist
the person, but you don’t necessarily need to
have arms. I think that that was what the
minister was saying.
“There is need for people to arise to defend
themselves not necessarily using weapons that
are banned. You can use a stick and disarm
someone.
“Some years ago, I was able to disarm armed
robbers with seven AK 47 without anything. I
think that is the kind of thing he is trying to
say. Nigerians should rise up to do this.
“Security matters are not just left in the hands
of security men, it requires every one of us to
put our heads together and be courageous to
be able to surmount it,’’ he added.
The governor also dismissed the insinuation
that he had strained relationship with
President Buhari and the APC-led federal
government.
He, however, acknowledged that he had “not
so good’’ relationship with some heads of
security agencies occasioned by the recent
happenings in Benue.
Ortom said: “ Benue people first before any
other thing. I have not had any strained
relationship with the federal government.
“I had strained relationship with security
agencies Head not even with security agencies
and that was the point I was making.
“But all I was saying is trying to add value to
the security of the nation by bringing my
suggestions as a former local government
chairman, former minister and now current
serving governor.
“I think I have something to add to the
security architecture of this country that can
add value and help us to do better than we are
doing.
“There is always room for improvement in any
setting or organisation by buying from one
person to the other because nobody has
monopoly of knowledge.
“And people must be willing to accept pieces of
advice especially superior opinions that can
help shape and add value to the development
of our system.’’
Meanwhile, Reports have been going round that The
Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom and his
predecessor, Gabriel Suswam have settled
their political differences and agreed to work
together for the common good of the state.
The reconciliation meeting between both
politicians took place at the palace of the
paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, Tor Tiv,
HRM Professor James Ayatse in Gboko.

Source:Naij.com