Anti-Open Grazing: Pro-Buhari Group Says Ortom Doesn’t Hate Buhari, Fulanis

The Tiv National Volunteers for Buhari Worldwide and National Leader of Tiv Muslims Worldwide, has said that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State doesn’t hate President Muhammadu Buhari and the Fulani tribe as many believe.

National Leader of the group, Alhaji Sadiq Tyomanger, who is also known as Tiv Buharist, made the remark while backing the the implementation of the anti-open grazing law in the state.

In a statement issued by Tyomanger, while disclosing that Ortom appointed 14 Fulani aborigines into his government in 2015, he also recalled that Ortom once appointed Miyetti Allah leader in the state, Alhaji Garus Gorolo as Senior Special Adviser on Fulani Affairs.

He said: “It has become necessary to debunk the claims that His Excellency, Samuel Ortom, Executive Governor of Benue State hates Fulani ethnic nationals.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am Alhaji Sadiq Tyomanger, the National Leader of the famous Tiv National Volunteers for Buhari worldwide. I also double as the National Leader of Tiv Muslims worldwide.

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“It is on record that Governor Ortom, on assumption of office in 2015 appointed 14 Fulani aborigines into his Government including the leader of Miyetti Allah in the state, Alhaji Garus Gorolo who served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Fulani Affairs. Gololo is of Fulani from Adamawa State.

“With all these appointments made to these sons and daughters of Fulani nationality, we can’t figure out where the Ortom Government has indicated any single trace of hatred on the fulani people as a tribe.

“It is unfortunate and pure act of mischief that rather than applaud Governor Samuel Ortom for his magnanimity to the Fulani as a race, criminal elements within their fold are bent on destroying the peace in the state thereby undermining the government and its people.

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Anti-Open Grazing Law of the state, unprovoked attacks on farming communities in the state and owing up to the killing in the media including on National TV.

“They have therefore, rendered hundreds of thousands displaced and are living in IDPs camps. It is disheartening and sickening.

“No nation of the world to the best of my knowledge apart from Nigeria is still talking about open grazing or cattle routes hence ranching is the only way to go when it comes to the business of animal husbandry.

“Let’s not forget that the entire Benue society is behind the Anti Open-Grazing Law of the state for the purpose of stemming the tide of incessant herdsmen/farmers crisis.

“Tiv Buharists are therefore, standing with Governor Samuel Ortom, the government and people of Benue State on the state’s Anti Open-grazing Law and its implementation. We are totally not in support of any grazing route of any kind in view of the increasing population density and fixed landmass. Any other archaic animal husbandry policy is rejected.”

“Why is the Federal Government not talking about ranching? Why are they suddenly insisting on going back to the impossible archaic cattle grazing routes?

“Let’s not deceive ourselves. The cattle grazing routes will not be possible in Benue State for now.”

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“We are therefore calling on the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), to kindly count Benue out of his grazing routes policy and find a way of returning our farmers back to their ancestral homes.

“And, again if Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, has in one swoop, given appointments to 14 core Fulani nationals, cutting across Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Adamawa, Plateau and Taraba states, and you still shout hate, then I don’t know how else to display love and brotherhood to Fulani as a tribe,” he added