Who blink first in the battle of grazing root for herders?
The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has vowed to reclaim all the old grazing roots across the country.
The government sees the grazing root option as the solution to the herder\farmer crisis in the country.
Most governors, especially the Southern states and some in the North Central think otherwise. The southern governors have already taken position on it, that is no to open grazing.
While speaking in Lagos at the handing over of vehicles to security agencies, President Buhari said grazing across the country will open.
But, Benue Governor Samuel Ortom on Sunday also expressed his rejection to open grazing as he vowed that the State will never cede a piece of land as grazing routes.
He said the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that all grazing be open will not stand in Benue.
In his funeral oration at the burial of Pa Daniel Akange Ape in Tse Ape, Mbaikyurav- Yar, Mbayegh, Ushongo Local Government area, Governor Ortom said there is no grazing reserve or cattle route in Benue.
He said the anti-open grazing law in Benue state is in force and anyone who contravenes it would be arrested and prosecuted.
He advised the people of Benue state to use legal means to defend themselves as they have cried enough.
“We have cried enough, now it’s time to defend ourselves, we have talked too much and we are not talking again.
“Get yourself a bow and arrow. If they attack you come out of your house. You don’t need a license to own a cutlass stand up and defend yourselves and land. We must defend our land,” he said.
He described the Late Pa Akange as a committed Christian who brought up all his children in a godly way.
Pa Akange is the father of Engr. Steve Àkange of Hajiag Construction Nig Limited
