Governor Samuel Ortom says Benue people have given him so much that there is no sacrifice that will be too much for him to make for them.
He spoke yesterday at the Benue Peoples House during a stakeholders meeting which he convened to give an update on the latest security situation in the state.
Governor Ortom said the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law had come to stay in Benue and urged other states of the country to adopt it as the global best practice of animal husbandry.
He stated that as long as threats and attacks on his people continue, he would continue to cry aloud to the whole world, stressing that those offended by his utterances should forgive him.
While expressing appreciation for the support of the National Assembly, groups, individuals as well as socio-cultural organizations for identifying with the state in its trying moment, Governor Ortom said victory was already in sight as Nigerians had not hidden their solidarity with the law.
He appealed to public spirited individuals, corporate organizations and various tiers of government to assist the state in taking care of displaced persons in five camps in Guma and Logo local government areas.
In separate remarks, representatives of the three senatorial districts across the State, Senators Iyorwuese Hagher and Fred Orti as well as Professor Jerry Agada respectively said the battle against open grazing was not only for the benefit of Benue but for the safety of all Nigerians.
They urged Benue people to continue to stand firm and pray for Governor Ortom to win the battle against what they described as ethnic cleansing and genocide against his people.
Representatives of the Tor Tiv, Ochi'Doma, the church and other groups also pledged their support for tackling the security challenges and rejected cattle colonies as proposed by the federal government.
Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, elder statesman and immediate past leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Wantaregh Paul Unongo and Senator JKN Waku among others commended the people for uniting against the invasion and sued for its sustenance.Wantaregh Unongo noted that Governor Ortom's life was under threat from sponsors of the genocide in Benue, lamenting that it was regrettable that Benue which lost over 700,000 sons to keep Nigeria united would be paid with gruesome killings by herdsmen.More photos below.
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