Hundreds of youths defied the heavy down pour early Wednesday and marched to seat of government in Makurdi, Benue state capital and called on Governor Samuel Ortom to run for second term.
The youths who wore T shirts with the inscriptions, ‘Benue Youths endorse Ortom for 2019’ adduced their reasons for what they described as ‘impressive performance’ in the last two years.
Anthony Adah, Dan Nyikwagh and Sunny Nyio, who spoke on behalf of the youths from the three senatorial districts of the state said that the call became necessary for them to encourage him to run for a second term.
They also expressed support for the open grazing prohibition law and assured the governor that youths would continue to support his policies especially those that seek to protect lives and property.
Address of the three leaders were reechoed by Vera Akase, Godwin Jirgba and Mike Edache who spoke on behalf of youths from Benue North-east, Benue North-west and Benue South Senatorial Districts respectively and handed over letters to the governor for onward submission to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Governor Ortom who responded to their call assured the people of the state of his commitment to the provision of democracy dividends at all levels.
The governor who was represented by Mr Titus Zam, special adviser to the governor on Bureau local government and chieftaincy Affairs vowed to continue to provide democracy dividends to the citizens of the state to excel in agriculture and business.
The governor commended the youths for their orderly conduct and maintained that the anti-open grazing law which was signed after being subjected to public hearing has come to stay.
He explained that the law was aimed at restoring peace between herdsmen and farmers and insisted that it has not disallowed anybody from staying in Benue.
According to him, “increase in population and farming activities have made land for open grazing to be scarce.”
Ortom said that herdsmen who wish to ranch their cattle would be supported to do so and appealed to the people not to hinder the movement of the herdsmen that are leaving the state.
The governor reiterated his earlier stand on the implementation of the anti-grazing law in November and stressed that the law was for all categories of livestock.
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