Buhari’s insistence on open grazing points to a hidden agenda – Ortom

By our reporter| Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Tuesday said the insistence of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government on open grazing suggests it has a hidden agenda.

Ortom’s comment followed Monday’s statement from the presidency which faulted the recent resolutions of the Southern Governors to ban on open grazing in the entire southern part of the country.

In a statement signed by spokesman Terver Akase, Ortom said the insistence on open grazing reserves by the Buhari government was curious.

The governor said, “We find the move not only shocking and curious but also as a misplaced priority.”

“At a time the country is worried about the worsening security situation and many Nigerians are calling for national dialogue to address the fundamental issues that have led to the present state of affairs, the Federal Government considers the reopening of cattle grazing routes as the only solution available to it.”

Ortom who faulted the Federal Government’s plan to commence rehabilitation work on grazing reserves in the country next month, recalled that the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) had met on February 9 and agreed that the current system of herding mainly by open grazing is no longer sustainable, in view of the growing urbanisation and population of the country.

He noted that the Forum consequently resolved to sensitize herders on the need to adopt ranching as the new method of animal husbandry.

He added, “As it stands, the Presidency is the lone hand pushing for the continuation of open grazing and the return of cattle routes of 1950s and 60s. The Presidency has, by its endorsement of open grazing, emboldened armed herders who lay claim to all lands in Nigeria as belonging to Fulani, hence their invasion of farming communities and killing of original owners of such lands.

“The fact must be established that grazing reserves or cattle routes are no longer tenable in the 21st century when Nigeria’s population far exceeds that of the fifties at a time these routes were contemplated.

“At present, the routes have been taken over by airports, roads, schools, hospitals, as well as markets, houses, and other human activities. The country’s land mass has also reduced to less than 923 square kilometers with the excision of Bakassi to Cameroon. Besides, the international best practice of animal husbandry is ranching; and that’s the stand of Benue State.”