Anti-open grazing law: Miyetti Allah accuses Gov Ortom of blackmail

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani socio-cultural association has accused Governor Samuel Ortom of blackmail and under hand tactics over the controversial anti-open grazing law in the state. National President of the association Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and the National Secretary Engr Saleh Alhassan told reporters in Abuja that the governor was afraid that his veiled […]

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani socio-cultural association has accused Governor Samuel Ortom of blackmail and under hand tactics over the controversial anti-open grazing law in the state.

National President of the association Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and the National Secretary Engr Saleh Alhassan told reporters in Abuja that the governor was afraid that his veiled hatred of the Fulanis would not stand the test of time especially that the court may rule the law to be implemented from November 1st as illegal.

“The outburst of Governor Samuel Ortom shows that he is confused on our association legal challenge to the oblivious and wicked “Anti-grazing law” and the veil propaganda mounted by the governor and his agents on the leadership of the Miyetti Allah. We view this as an attempt to use media to influence and preempt the outcome of the court processes challenging the negative law currently on going at the Federal High Court, Abuja

“We as an organisation championing the economic rights of the pastoralists wish to restate that we are law abiding citizens of Nigeria and believe in the rule of Law and the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution. We have been consciously working with all stakeholders in finding lasting solution to the herders/farmers conflict in Nigeria. We remain totally opposed to anti-grazing law because it is in intended to destroy our means of economic livelihoods, ill-timed and driven by hatred of our people,” Alhassan who spoke at the meeting said.

He lamented that the Benue State Government intend to establish six detention centres through a committee to legitimize cattle rustling that have been the major driver of the conflicts between farmers/herders in the Benue Valley and which confirming their fears of the negative use if the anti-grazing law to disposers the pastoralists of their cattle and livelihood

He said, “We are challenging Governor Samuel Ortom to make public the security documents in his possession alleging planned invasion ‎of Benue State by pastoralists. We are also challenging Governor Ortom to produce his aide and ally, the killer gangster nicknamed Gana who have been behind the serial killing of innocent people in Benue State.”

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct relevant security agencies to closely monitor the activities and actions of Governor Ortom against Fulani issues as his reporting the matter to the President last week was an afterthought.

He also said that the Benue law is incomparable to the one in Ekiti State, saying the convergence of herdsmen in the Benue Valley between November and February every year is historical and inevitable and that the law was meant to deny the herdsmen their legitimate rights as Nigerians.