The Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom has asked the Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), to apologise to Nigerians for demanding the suspension of the state’s anti-grazing law.
Ali had on June 5 called for the suspension of the law, which is operational in Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states.
Speaking yesterday at an event to showcase the national livestock transformation plan by the Office of the Vice President, Ortom said there should be caution by those in government as regards the crisis.
The governor said the statement of the defence minister has cast the government in bad light.
“Honourable minister (Audu Ogbeh), just one thing; I am part of this government and I appreciate what this government is doing. So, since the honourable minister of defence is not a member of NEC and you are constantly in NEC and you are member of the Federal Executive Council ,where other ministers will be there. What you have said is very important, there should have be a level of caution,†Ortom said.
“In a time like this, we should be sensitive to what is going on. When the young man was making his remarks, he was literally shaking and it is coming from the heart and that is how most Nigerians are. I wonder if the minister has had time to read the newspapers, he would have felt the feelings of Nigerians for him calling for the suspension of a legitimate law,†Ortom added.
“It is not good enough, it is casting the government in bad light and the minister of the federal republic should represent the interest of Nigerians. He should not be the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah in a conflict involving Nigerians,†he saidf.
“Some people took it as the opinion of the security council. When he clarified it solve some problems; he needs to apologise to Nigerians,†Ortom said.
The governor said the anti-grazing law was put in place out of desperation.
“We did the anti-grazing law out of desperation to find peace,†he said.
