Count Benue out of grazing routes policy, Gov Ortom does not hate Buhari, Fulani tribe – Tiv Buharists

Alhaji Sadiq Tyomanager, the national leader of Tiv National Volunteers for Buhari Worldwide has faulted the notion in some quarters that Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom hates President Muhammadu and Fulani ethnic group.

Tyomanager made this known in a statement issued in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Monday.

According to him, the statement became imperative to debunk the claims that His Excellency, Samuel Ortom, Executive Governor of Benue State hates Fulani ethnic nationals.

He noted that 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.

Tyomanager, who doubles asNational Leader of Tiv Muslims Worldwide, called on the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, to kindly count Benue out of his grazing routes policy and find a way of returning our farmers back to their ancestral homes.

The statement reads in full.

This press statement 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.

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.

Others, according to Alhaji Tyomanager are:

2. El-sheik Aliyu Ibrahim — Chairman, Benue Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boardfrom Bebeji, Taraba State.

3. Adamu BabiExecutive Secretary, Benue Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board — from Zamfara State.

4. Suleiman Dangiwa — Member, Benue Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board from Zaria, Kaduna State.

5. Abaulahi Dankeji — Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Relations – from Taraba State.

6. Rilwanu Adamu — Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Affairsfrom Katsina State

7. Shehu Tanbaya — Special Assistant to the Governor on Herdsmen from Adamawa State

8. Lawal Maikeke – Special Assistant to the Governor on Religion — from Katsina State,

9. Hajia Fatima Sule — Special Assistant to the Governor on Hausa Women — from Sokoto State

10. Ismaila Adamu — Special Assistant to the Governor on Religion — from

Kano State

11. Yusuf Sani — Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Relations — from Kebbi State

12. Rabiu Gorowa — Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Relations — from Zamfara State

13. Ismaila Usman — Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Relationsfrom Jos, Plateau State

14. Mallam Bala Inuwa — Special Assistant to the Governor on Supreme Islamic Affairs — 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.

This is evident in their total disregard to the 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.

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.

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.