Buhari Supports Open Grazing, Tiv Youth Organisation Alleges

George Okoh in Makurdi

The leader of the youth wing of the Tiv socio-cultural group, Tiv Youth Organisation (TYO), has accused President Muhammadu Buhari tacit support for open grazing by herdsmen as against the calls by Nigerians for ranching of herds.

In a statement signed by the President-General of TYO world-wide, Mr. Timothy Hembaor, the group urged Buhari to come clean on his position over the farmers/herders crisis.

The presidency had advised the state governor to “cooperate” with the federal government in tackling what he described as fundamental issues responsible for the killings in the state.

“The president aide, Garba Shehu, had said: ‘Benue State under Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration ought to cooperate with the federal government in the implementation of a number of strategic programmes in addressing underlying issues militating against peace, progress and development’,” a statement which Hembaor said ought to be clarified by the presidency.

Hembaor further stated that: “Ordinarily, TYO wouldn’t have wasted its energy to respond to a statement made by Shehu who has the antecedent of biting the fingers that feed him, once his pocket is lined up as reflected in the manner he relates with his former boss, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“Is Shehu referring to cooperation in the implementation of Ruga, cattle colony, grazing reserves and routes as well as acquiescence to the Fulani conquest and occupation agenda? Shehu needs to specify the strategic programme he is referring to.

“Whatever does Shehu mean by stating that Governor Ortom only sees the problem of others, he doesn’t see his own? Perhaps we need an explanation.

“In the context which the governor referred to President Buhari with regard to the killings in Benue State, Ortom was addressing one of his problems, and that is genocide being carried out on his people.

“How can someone in his right mind not see the murder of Benue citizens as Ortom’s problem? When Benue citizens are being killed on a daily basis, is that not Ortom’s problem?

“Yes, it is also another person’s problem, and that is President Buhari, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”

He added that as an umbrella body of Tiv youths worldwide, “whose ethnic group, along with all others in Nigeria, besides the Fulani, has been singled out for annihilation by the Buhari administration in accordance with the Fulani conquest and occupation agenda, we have concluded that the killings in Benue State are being sponsored and supported by the presidency.”