Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has accused his political enemies of inciting Fulani herdsmen and the people of the state against his government. He said that the herdsmen are moving freely and relating with farmers in his own local government without any problem.
Ortom stated this while speaking with State House correspondents after his meeting with Acting president Yemi Osinbajo on Monday.
His words, “It is not the people who are saying this. The people who are saying this are outside Agatu people. This was a peace pact that was brokered by the Agatu people and the Fulani herdsmen. And myself and Governor of Nassarawa State were there to moderate and allow them. And the insinuation that part of the land was conceded to Fulani is false. It is being instigated by our political opponents who have nothing to sell the people. They want to use that to instigate the people against our government.
But the cannot because we are sincere, God-fearing and truthful. We have ensured there is peace in our land.
“As I talk to you, in my own local government, the herdsmen are moving freely. But they are being monitored and relating with the farmers very well. In 2013, my house was raised down in one day alone and more than 50 of my kins men were killed and my rice farm was burnt. But since I came in as a governor, I have brokered this peace and everything is moving on well. The Agatu people told us they are tired of the crisis and want to live a normal life. And for those Fulani herdsmen who were born and bred in Agatu land should come back and live with them.
“But the foreign herdsmen who are violent and been causing destruction should not come near their territory. This was an understanding between two groups. It is not that any land was ceded to any Fulani herdsman and all that. But the truth of the matter is that we must learn to be peaceful. It is only when we have peace that we can begin to improve our states, local governments and the country. When there is violence, we don’t know the extent that can take us.
“So it is false, it was perpetuated by those who want to run our government down. I can assure you that we are on ground and we are working with the people and the people are working with us. We will always be there to protect their interest”, he said.
Speaking on the success of his recent trip to South Africa, Ortom said that some investors who indicated interest in agriculture would be coming to visit him in February.
“Very successful, I must say that I went there on invitation of some of our investors who are in South Africa and we are looking at investing in agriculture taking on the entire value chain from seedling to cropping to harvesting to storage to processing and to marketing. And I have gotten quite a number of them who will be visiting me third week of February.
“And I believe a lot of good things will come out of that. And my state is also endowed with solid minerals. Just needed the exploration, which I have gotten investors who are going to do this and thereafter go into processing of these solid minerals”, he said.
