Powerful people are threatening my life – Benue Governor says

Ortom said that he has been receiving threats because of his resolve to go ahead with the anti-open grazing law.

In May 2017,the Benue state Governor signed anti-open grazing bill into law.

Speaking further, Ortom said that he is ready to lay his life down for the truth to prevail.

According to Independent, he said “The Bible says ‘you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.’ Nigeria today, we have no business being where we are. We would have been far ahead of where we are today. It’s just that for a long time, we have suppressed the truth.

“But the truth is that I have decided to offer myself. If it will require me to pay the supreme sacrifice for saying the truth, I’m ready to do it because the time has come that we must stop promoting sycophancy and mediocrity.

“We must promote the truth. We must respect the constitution and the rule of law. The constitution and the law of our land is the only thing that can guide us to greater height.

“It’s the only thing that can lead us to where we want to be. It’s only thing that can promote and project us to rank with other countries that are doing well.

“Was it not just yesterday we said ‘Ghana must go?’ Why is it that on West African soil today the whole world is turning their attention whether in investment or whatever? Ghana has become a reference point against Nigeria.”

Ortom also regretted that he is being persecuted for standing for what is right.

He said “And today, for the persecution that am going through, for doing what is right then, I’ve become a target? For saying that ‘look, enough is enough, stone Age laws should be repealed even if they were laws or if they were policies, we should discard them because they will not help us.

“The truth is that I felt so sad when the Minister of Defence and followed by the IG of Police were acting the script of Miyetti Allah instead of doing their jobs that they are collecting tax papers money for every month which am also involved in.

“How can you say that it’s the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Provision of Ranching Law 2017 in Benue State that has brought those killings?”

“We live in a country where people will come out in the name of Miyetti Allah and issue threats that they are coming to attack, that they will mobilize people to invade the land and take over the land. And even when you report to the authorities, no action is taken and they expect you to keep quiet.

“When you are a leader elected by the people and they are looking unto you for protection, what do you expect me to do? I should speak.

“And of course, when I speak, the media is able to alert the whole world and today, the whole world appreciates the magnitude of the problem that am going through.

“How can you live in a state and you have seven IDP camps hosting more than 100,000 people and 60 percent of these people children who should be in their schools.

“They are being denied their legitimate right, which we as leaders are supposed to give them, because of the non-performance of people who are saddled with sensitive responsibilities in this country to provide security for lives and property.

ALSO READ:Ortom reveals location of killer Fulani Herdsmen in Benue

“So, it is painful and really unfortunate and I expect those people who are responsible for enforcing the laws of our lands and ensuring security for lives and property who have demonstrated incompetence because of what is going on…take for instance, the president directed the IG of Police to relocate to Benue state to ensure that these killings stop.

“The IG came here one day and left and he is sitting in Abuja and he has chosen to send his PPRO to be insulting me on Channels Television for doing what is right and for him not doing his job,” he added.

Herdsmen say more blood will flow in Benue

The National Vice President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association (MACBAN), Husaini Yusuf Bosso recently said that there will be more bloodshed in Benue state if the anti-grazing law is not scrapped.

Bosso also accused Governor Ortom of flouting an international agreement that created a grazing route from Niger to the eastern part of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has said that nothing will make him scrap the anti-open grazing law.