Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has disclosed that
Senator George Akume told him not to assent to the Open Grazing Prohibition and
Ranches Establishment Law.
He made the disclosure on Tuesday at the Benue Peoples
House, Makurdi during a joint courtesy call on him by Masev Development
Association (MDA), Mbalom Unity and Progress Association (MUPA) Makurdi and
Dooshima U Kasev Mbasa.
The Governor explained that when he gathered Benue
stakeholders in May, 2017 to sign the ranching law in their presence, Akume
called him aside and asked him not to assent to the law without giving any
convincing reason.
He noted that when he told Akume to inform the stakeholders
about his advice, the Senator left him in anger.
The Governor wondered why a senator whose constituency had
suffered greater amount of human and material losses to herders’ attacks would
oppose a law proffering solution to the carnage and go out telling the world
that his people were killing themselves.
He directed the immediate construction of classroom blocks
at LGEA Primary School Atu and the sinking of two boreholes in Mbasa, assuring
the people that he would also address the challenges presented by the other
groups as resources permitted.
Meanwhile, the people of Mbalom have disagreed with Senator
George Akume over his recent comments that the two priests and 17 other
worshippers were killed by Benue people and not herders.
Mr. Samuel Abagi, President of MUPA while differing with
Senator Akume over the claim said their kinsmen were killed by militia
herdsmen, stressing that they were in support of the ranching law of the state
and the entire administration of Governor Ortom.
Mr. Nicolas Gyegwe, leader of the MDA delegation and Patrick
Ningir, while speaking for MDA and Mbasa respectively, pledged their
unflinching support for the administration of the Governor and his reelection
in 2019.
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