Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged members of the National Assembly to remain vigilant and resist last minute attempts under whatever guise to pass a bill that seeks to deprive Nigerians of their God-given lands in favour of pastoralists across the country.
In a statement by his media aide, Ortom said he found it curious that since 2016, the presidency has sent the grazing reserves bill to the National Assembly bearing different names, and despite the public outcry, it has not given up the idea of having the bill passed.
“If the current administration had concentrated on tackling insecurity in the manner they have pushed for the enactment of a cattle grazing reserves law, the country would have been safer for every Nigerian.
“In November 2016, the Senate rejected the controversial bill seeking to establish a grazing management agency which was to ensure the creation of cattle grazing areas across the country.
“In 2017, the Federal Government again tried to influence the passage of a bill adorning the same regalia which was called National Grazing Routes and Reserves Bill. That bill was similarly rejected following the alarm raised by some patriotic Nigerians.
“The government subsequently introduced the National Water Resources Bill which also came with a singular objective of bringing all water sources (surface and underground) and river banks under the control of the Federal Government, a move that attracted an avalanche of condemnations from Nigerians.”
“The Federal Government introduced RUGA, Cattle Colonies and several other programmes, all aimed at creating settlements for pastoralists in all the states of the federation. It is on record that Governor Ortom was the first to speak out against the draconian bills.
“If passed by the National Assembly, the law will establish a council with the powers to take over land in any part of the country for grazing reserves and pay ‘compensation’ to the land owner(s). Beneficiaries of the usurped land will be pastoralists whose animals will enjoy unfettered access to the land,” he said in the statement.
Ortom maintained that the National Grazing Reserves Council Bill is not only a violation of the constitution and the Land Use Act but is also a fang of impunity, subjugation and a deeply rooted conquest agenda against Nigerians.
“The bill is a direct land-grabbing legislation designed to make Nigerians slaves in their country while serving the selfish and parochial interests of herdsmen,” he said.
Governor Ortom urged members of the National Assembly to act as true representatives of the people for the sake of posterity, and to remember the future and unity of the nation lies in their hands.
While encouraging the lawmakers to remain dogged in their rejection of the bill and any other surreptitious attempt to mock millions of innocent Nigerians who have fallen victim to the occupation agenda, Ortom emphasised his stand on national issues is borne out of patriotism and not for any personal agenda or gain as he believes in fairness, justice and equity.
