Buhari took Nigeria from top to the bottom

BUHARI TOOK NIGERIA FROM TOP TO THE BOTTOM - Ortom

By Tamenor Kwaghzer 

The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has alleged that the erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari actualized the promise to take Nigeria from top to the bottom.

The Ex Governor disclosed at a media interaction organized by the Agate radio, television and newspaper conglomerate in Makurdi the state capital.

The former Governor insisted that the up surge in the violent attacks on residents of the state by terrorists disguising as herders was the product of resistance the Buhari federal government gave on the anti open grazing law enacted by the government of Benue State to protect citizens. Ortom said, the then federal administration resisted implementation of the law and that the development inspired the armed herders across Africa since then to troop in Nigeria with Benue State as their destination for violence against its armless population!

 According to him, the quest for the immediate past federal government to underdevelop Benue encouraged the herders to attack people of the state and takeover the land. For this reason, he suspected the under developing action as reasonably justifiable to draw the conclusion that Buhari accomplished the alleged resolve to bring the country from the top to the bottom!

The member of Board of Trustees for the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) explained also what forced him out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the party he won the first term in office as Governor but moved to PDP. Ortom alleged the rigid position of the Buhari government against the prohibition of open grazing of animals in the state and added that the intransigence forced him out, notwithstanding the consequence such decision had for his personal life and people of the state! 

Explaining further that his unwillingness to be persuaded to abandon the law was best decision he took for the people Ortom stressed more that any acceptance would have sold people of the state into slavery forever.

Another reason provided by the ex Governor against the enemies allegedly determined to occupy and takeover the Benue valley was the Buhari administration's seeming manipulation of the system aimed at reopening grazing routes for his Fulani kinsmen.

Ortom imagined the possibility reviving the conditions for redrawing the grazing routes allegedly carved in the early 1960's Buhari pitched against the state anti open grazing law.

The PDP top notch clarified that since the infrastructural growth and the population expansion of the country among other factors have overtaken the pre historic lifestyles, it became not possible for operationalization of grazing routes in modern Nigeria.

On universal application of the law, Ortom denied allegations of discrimination on its implementation as having favoured only indigenes of the state who breached the legal instrument but blamed Buhari again for allegedly opposing the law to improve business of animal husbandry unlike other countries with high population of herds.

According to him the countries chose ranching of animals as the best practice for modern husbandry. On the reported directives by the country's military high command for its personnel to dispossess and prosecute the civil population possessing arms believably meant for self against armed herders, Ortom stated that he has left office as Governor to understand government policy direction on the matter. 

Under the circumstance, he said it became difficult for the comment to come in support or against the policy. On the other hand, he acknowledged the primary responsibility of any government to equitably protect the life of every citizen regardless of whosoever was involved and called for unity among politicians to reinforce security, save life and property and sought support for leaders of the country including Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State.