From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Immediate past Governor of Benue State Chief Samuel Ortom said he outrightly rejected 75 billion naira from the Buhari administration to repeal the anti-open grazing law.
Chief Ortom made this revelation at his first media interaction after leaving office.
He said 40 billion was offered to him to clear all outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities he had inherited from the Suswam government and another 35 billion for infrastructure on ground that he should repeal the anti-open grazing law, but he outrightly rejected it.
Ortom maintained that the law was promulgated for the interest of the Benue people and he could not have betrayed them by accepting such amount.
“I did my best in the area of security. I listened to the people and implemented the anti-open grazing law. Many persons including indigenes who rustled cattle were sent to prison. I want to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing Ministry of Livestock. He has been advocating for ranching.
“Between 2015 and 2023, Nigeria government was taken from top to bottom. We provided a law regulating cattle movement in the country. There is nothing like farmers/herders crisis, it is land grabbing. Ranching remains the best global practice for cattle regulation. Buhari government rejected ranching and created a big problem.
“In my opinion, the President is doing well by ensuring the rule of law. The issue of fuel subsidy is a scam by few individuals who were manipulating and milking the system. Long queues are no longer there and gradually things are taking shape as Dangote and others are reducing fuel price. There is enough money for Governors to pay salaries, and it is as a result of removal of fuel subsidy.”
He is adding value to the country through his policies.
“For us to get it right, we must go through tough reforms. We need to be patient.”
