Barely 48 hours after he accused Benue state government of using the military to intimidate herders in the state, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Garus Gololo has come under fire for his statements with an aide to the governor warning him to desist from mischief making.
Gololo, during a TV programme, had accused Benue state Government of using the military to intimidate and drive away herders in Benue state and called on the federal government to evacuate the military in both Benue and Taraba States.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Ortom on Animal Husbandry, Shehu Tambaya in a chat with the Next Edition condemned the APC chieftain saying Benue state Government has never, at any point, used the military to intimidate Fulani herdsmen or anyone in the state.
According to him, calling the federal government to evacuate the military in both Benue and Taraba States at a time everyone wants them to stay and ensure adequate security, showed Gololo was up to some mischief.
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Tambaya stated rather that the Benue State’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was not aimed at witch hunting any people or race but for the peaceful coexistence of everyone living in the state.
He therefore described Gololo’s accusation against Governor Ortom as unfortunate and an attempt to smear his name.
“The Anti Open Grazing Law is not targeting anybody and it will interest you to know that people from different tribes including Tiv, Idoma, Hausa and others who violate the law are being apprehended and the records are there.”
He recalled that before the enactment of the law, the issue of farmers/herders crises had affected the peaceful atmosphere that the Benue people and other affected states were enjoying even as he commended Ortom and all stakeholders in the state for coming up with the law.
“The law gave both herders and farmers a sense of belonging and that is why the state government has made provisions for those that are ready to rear cattle anywhere in the state to come forward and apply for land where they can peacefully keep their cattle and other animals.
“So, it will be unfortunate for anybody to accuse the Benue state Governor of using the military and livestock guards to drive away the herdsmen from Benue state.
“It will be unfortunate for Gololo to think that he can stay in Abuja and be discussing the security challenges of Benue state. I want to call on the general public to disregard the baseless accusation because it is an attempt to drag the the name of Governor Samuel Ortom in the mud,” Tambaya stated.
