The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has on Wednesday made some links to the incessant killings in the state to the Federal Government while fingering President Muhammadu Buhari as being the master planner of the unfortunate killings.
Governor Ortom had also alleged that the Federal Government sent “people” to kill farmers in the state.
While Speaking with Arise TV, the governor said the alleged action of the Federal Government has made it impossible for his administration to generate Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
Read Also: Challenge Anti-Open Grazing Law With Facts – Ortom
He lamented that the killings have led to the spread of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state.
According to Ortom: “My IGR is low because of the security situation in the country; I can’t raise IGR. Today, as I talk to you, over 1.5 million people are IDPs and are no longer going to farms.
“The Federal Government and COAS have sent people to kill farmers in their farmland.
“We are now in the rainy season, but farmers are no longer going to their farms, so how do I raise IGR?”
Governor Samuel Ortom has also charged those who believe that his administration made mistakes in enacting the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law to speak against it publicly in the state and see the reaction of the people.
Governor Ortom gave the challenge on Thursday after receiving the award as Best Governor in Nigeria in the area of security given to him by the ‘Daily Independent’ newspaper and other awards.
He said the law, which was enacted as a solution to the perennial clashes between herdsmen and farmers has the endorsement of traditional and religious leaders, Christians and Muslims and other stakeholders who have all remained resolute that the law should not be repealed.
=The Governor emphasised that his Government will continue to fully implement the law regardless of the intensity of intimidation, harassment, attacks, and hardship, stating those who were considering coming to have the law repealed were daydreaming.
