Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, has threatened to sue the president if he insists to continue on grazing reserve despite people’s opposition to the program.
Governor Ortom stated this while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi.
He said that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria supersedes the Northern Nigeria Law that the presidency was using as a reference point.
The governor insisted that the people of the state had mandated him not to accept the Grazing Reserve Policy but rather support the National Livestock Transformation Programme.
Ortom maintained that the state would not in any way concede an inch of the land for the Grazing Policy, saying, ‘even such lands do not even exist here in Benue’.
Fielding questions from newsmen, Ortom said, “I have already briefed my lawyers to start the process, anyhow, I will challenge it in court and I believe I will get a judgment.
“The truth is that if the entire country had accepted ranching, then why is Mr President insisting on open grazing when there is no land for such.
“In the 50s when this policy was initiated what was the population of Nigeria, it was less than 40 million but today we are more than 200 million. The 923 square kilometres is not even enough to cater for the population. The reason Mr President is insisting to some of us, I think there is a hidden agenda.
“Mr President has aides, the Attorney General of the Federation Mallami SAN and other lawyers around him should advise him. For God sake it is laughable and it appears we do not know what we are doing.
“Under my watch, the State will not accept open grazing. I have already briefed my lawyers should Mr President insist on going ahead with the Policy.
It will be recalled that Governor Ortom had on Friday criticised the president over his administration insistence to revive the grazing reserve across the country despite opposition to it.
Credit: Nigeria Tribune