Akume never wanted me to sign anti open grazing ― Ortom

GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday said that Senator George Akume told him not to assent to the  Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

The governor explained this at the government house, Makurdi during a joint courtesy call on him by Masev Development Association (MDA), Mbalom Unity and Progress Association (MUPA) Makurdi and Dooshima U Kasev Mbasa.

Ortom explained to his visitors that when he gathered Benue stakeholders in May 2017 to sign the ranching law in their presence, Senator George Akume called him aside and asked him not to assent to the law without giving any convincing reason.

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On hearing this, Ortom said he told Akume to inform the stakeholders about his advice, this he said infuriated the Senator who left in anger.

The governor wondered why a senator whose constituency had suffered a greater amount of human and material losses to herders’ attacks would oppose a law proferring solution to the carnage and go out telling the world that his people were killing themselves.

The governor directed the immediate construction of classroom blocks at LGEA Primary School Atu and the sinking of two boreholes in Mbasa and assured the people that he would also attend to the challenges presented by the other groups as resources permitted.

The president of MUPA, Mr Samuel Abagi while differing with Senator Akume said their kinsmen were killed by militia herdsmen, stressing that they were in support of the ranching law of the state and the entire administration of Governor Ortom.