President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to
leaders of various groups in Benue State to
convince their constituents that the Federal
Government is doing its best to end the
recurring attacks by armed herdsmen in
various parts of the country.
Responding to remarks by various stakeholders
during a Town Hall meeting in Government
House, Makurdi, on Monday, the President also
urged them to show restraint and allow the
security agencies to handle the untenable
situation.
According to him, “The governor and I, and
others here know that we will leave one day,
but the relationship between farmers and
herders will continue. I urge you to keep in
touch with them and advise them to live
peacefully. Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups
with different cultures and nobody can
question God for putting us together.”
President Buhari while noting that he was not
in the habit of publicly rebuking his appointees
as many would desire, said that he preferred
to quietly “read the riot act” as he did to the
Inspector General of Police (IGP) when the
Benue attacks began.
The President disclosed that he even shared
the IGP’s security report on the Benue crisis
with Senators George Akume and Barnabas
Gemade from the state.
Recalling his Civil War era memories with
military officers from Benue State, he noted
that his nostalgic experience with such
persons would never allow him to do harm to
the state.
President Buhari, while thanking God for the
good rains, the successful efforts of the
Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, an
indigene of Benue State, whom he described
as “a great asset in my government,” said his
administration would continue to empower
farmers with loans by the Central Bank of
Nigeria.
Expressing delight that the agricultural policy
of his administration has led to 90 per cent
reduction in rice importation, he commended
Ebonyi, Lagos, Kebbi, Jigawa and Benue States
for “doing extremely well.”
Reacting to what he called a “shopping list” by
some stakeholders, the President enjoined
them to pray for the economy to improve,
noting that he would not make any promises
during this trip. He, however, stressed that,
“When coming back on campaign, if coming
back on campaign, I may promise.”
Governor Samuel Ortom had thanked President
Buhari for visiting and listening patiently to the
representatives of socio-cultural groups,
farmers, herdsmen, national and state
legislators, former leaders and elder
statesmen, among others, described him as “a
father known for his integrity and fight for
justice.”
Noting that the attacks by armed herdsmen
predated the current administration, the
governor said the recent attacks had displaced
170,000 people with children of school age
constituting 60 per cent.
He called for support for ranching,
compensation for victims of the attacks and
rebuilding of destroyed houses and farms, as
well as the upgrading of the current military
exercise to a “military operation.”
Governor Ortom also appealed to the Federal
Government to fix some major roads in the
state and take over the state polytechnic and
college of education among other demands.