TACKLE OPEN GRAZING, ENTHIC MARGINALIZATION, UNEMPLOYMENT TO END INSECURITY IN NIGERIA — GOV ORTOM TELLS FG
REPORTER: CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has commended the courageous step by the governors of Southern Nigeria to enact the Open Grazing Prohibition Laws.
Governor Ortom gave the commendation on Thursday as a Key Note Speaker at the 3rd Annual Lecture Series/Service Award and Inauguration of NUJ FRCN Enugu Chapel Executive.
The Governor who spoke on the theme, “Emerging Security Situation in Nigeria: the Place of Good Governance,” noted that prevailing open grazing had remained a major source of insecurity in Nigeria, with some militia herdsmen terrorizing innocent citizens, killing and kidnapping them.
He said his government earlier signed the anti-open grazing law to contain the evil by the marauding herdsmen, which had devastated lives and property in Benue State.
“The decision by Governors of the Southern states to make laws to ban open grazing is therefore a step in the right direction which deserves to be supported by all good people from all the regions that make up the South.
“We in Benue State took our stand and rejected open grazing four years ago when I, in the presence of Benue stakeholders, on 22nd May, 2017 signed the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.
“The law has since recorded tremendous success with more than 400 herders and cattle rustlers arrested with many already tried by competent courts of law and convicted
More than fifteen thousand herds of cattle have been impounded. The law has helped us to expose the evil agenda of Fulani terrorists,” the Governor remarked.
Governor Ortom, though acknowledged that livestock was a veritable revenue earner, he insisted that ranching remained a modern way to go, as adopted in most countries.
“There is no doubt that livestock production, as currently being carried out contributes significantly to food security and poverty reduction, but not without massive environmental implications like any other economic activity.
“In Nigeria, open grazing has been the practice of livestock production.
However, in recent times, livestock production system has led to unwarranted attacks on farmers in all parts of the country. This is due largely to population growth, infrastructural development and increased economic activities and above all, the Fulanisation agenda of Fulani nationalities worldwide who have vowed to make Nigeria their own country exclusively.
“Today, we live in the 21st century and open grazing is extinct in most countries of the world. In Europe, America, Asia and in many countries in Africa, pastoralism has long given way to ranching.
“According to the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA 2021 Report, India with a land mass of 1.2 square miles and with the highest number of cattle has about three hundred and five million, five hundred thousand (305,500,000) cattle, representing 30.52% of the world cattle population.
Brazil with a land mass of 3.3 million square miles has the second highest number of livestock of about two hundred and fifty-two million, seven hundred thousand (252,700,000) cattle representing 25.25%.
“China with a land mass of 3.7 square miles has about ninety-eight million, six hundred and twenty thousand (98,620,000) cattle which represents 9.55%.
“USA with a land mass of 3.6 square miles has ninety-three million, five hundred ninety-five thousand (93,595,000) cattle representing 9.35%. These are countries that have long abandoned open grazing and adopted ranching as the most sustainable and profitable form of livestock production,” Dr. Ortom narrated.
He expressed unhappiness that the Federal Government and security agencies had not given required attention to the menace and atrocities being perpetrated by bandits in the name of herders.
“Across the country, open grazing has caused the invasion of farming communities by Fulani herdsmen leading to massive killings, maiming of people, raping of women, destruction of property, loss of livelihoods and displacement of persons.
“You might have heard that on 20th March, 2021, there was an assassination attempt on me by Fulani militia on my way back from the farm. It took the grace of God for me to survive the attack.
The group called Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM came out to take responsibility for the attack on me, saying that they narrowly missed their target owing to a technical hitch. Shockingly, the report of the investigation into the attack on me is yet to see the light of day,” Gov. Ortom stated with regret.
The Benue State Chief Security Officer also urged the Federal Government to address the issue of lopsidedness in political appointments and other forms of perceived marginalisation of other sections of the country, a situation the Governor identified as a major cause of secessionist agitations and insecurity in the country.
Hear him: “the Federal Character Principle as enshrined in the Constitution has been abused and abandoned by the present administration. This is where leadership has failed Nigerians and good governance has also been relegated to the back seat.
“Eastern Nigeria, like other parts of the country, deserves equal attention with the provision of critical infrastructure and development projects, as well as allocation of resources and key appointments at the federal level.
“No section of this nation is more Nigerian than another. My definition of democracy is doing what the people want the way they want things done. As leaders, we owe the people who voted us a duty to serve them without prejudice and sentiments on account of region, religion, ethnicity, language and political affiliation.”
Governor Ortom, however, condemned violent agitations and attacks on individuals as such had resulted in the destruction of public infrastructure and critical national assets.
He therefore appealed to agitators to embrace dialogue as part of their process, pointing out that violence was undemocratic and unjust.
“The South East has been at the receiving end of such levels of injustice, impunity and marginalization. Let me make myself very clear. I am not a supporter of violence in any form, neither am I here to justify the violence being witnessed in parts of the East.
“This is why I condemn in strong terms, the destruction of Federal Government properties such as INEC offices, attacks on police stations, law enforcement operatives and even traditional rulers. Such attacks and destruction do not make a positive case for freedom fighters and campaigners for justice,” the Governor said.
Another area Governor Ortom emphasized on was the issue of unemployment, which he described as alarming.
He insisted that the Federal Government and states should do more to create job opportunities and favourable business environment for private investor participation to boost the country’s economy.
“In 2020, the unemployment rates are in the country stood at 9.01 percent. This year 2021, the unemployment rate in the country is estimated to be at 32.5 percent.
“Governments at all levels should take aggressive steps to address the problem of youth unemployment. There must be concerted efforts at job creation and youth empowerment using the private sector to provide employment to young Nigerians. This is one sure way to reducing youth restiveness.
“The Federal Government should urgently put in place the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive, in order to prevent more industries from folding up. Government policies ought to be friendly to boost private sector participation,” Governor Ortom advised.
He commended the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FRCN chapel for organizing the event where he was also given an award.
The second lecture was delivered by a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa.
In the lecture entitled “Enhancing Journalistic Profession I the Era of Social Media,” Chief Ohaa encouraged journalists to distinguish themselves from non professionals by ensuring they verified their stories and cross check their facts instead of rushing to be the first to break the news as had been the case in the social media.
Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, Chief Vin-Matin Obiora Iloh (who was the Chairman of the occasion) and the Leader Enugu State a House of Assembly, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu were among notable dignitaries that were resented with awards by the NUJ FRCN, Enugu Chapel.
The Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka who thanked the guests for honoring the invitation and the Zonal Director of the Zonal Station, Pastor Emmanuel Inegbedion for providing the conducive environment for the programme.
The chapel also presented gifts to two retired Deputy Directors in the news sub-directorate: Chinwe Onoye and Chief Vincent Nnadozie Oshigbo as well as another retired Assistant Director News, Mr. Gerald Udeh for their meritorious service.