Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged members of the National Assembly to remain vigilant and resist last minute attempts to pass a bill ‘which seeks to deprive Nigerians of their God-given lands in favour of pastoralists across the country’.

In a statement signed yesterday by his media aide, Terver Akase, said ‘if the current administration had concentrated on tackling insecurity in the manner it has pushed for the enactment of a cattle grazing reserves law, the country would have been safer for every Nigerian’.

The statement read further: “In November 2016, the Senate rejected the controversial bill seeking to establish a Grazing Management Agency which was to ensure the creation of cattle grazing areas across the country. In 2017, the Federal Government again tried to influence the passage of a bill adorning the same regalia, which was called National Grazing Routes and Reserves Bill. That bill was also rejected following the alarm raised by some patriotic Nigerians.

“The government subsequently introduced the National Water Resources Bill, which also came with the objective of bringing all water sources (surface and underground) and river banks under the control of the Federal Government, a move that attracted an avalanche of condemnations from Nigerians.

“It again introduced Ruga, Cattle Colonies and several other programmes, all aimed at creating settlements for pastoralists in all the states of the federation

“If passed, the law will establish a council with the powers to take over land in any part of the country for grazing reserves and pay ‘compensation’ to the owner(s). Beneficiaries of the usurped land will be pastoralists whose animals will enjoy unfettered access to the land.

Governor Ortom urges members of the National Assembly to act as true representatives of the people for the sake of posterity, and to remember that the future and unity of this nation lies in their hands. He encourages the lawmakers to remain dogged in their rejection of the bill, and any other surreptitious attempt to mock Nigerians who have fallen victim to the occupation agenda. Governor Ortom’s stand on national issues is borne out of patriotism and not for any personal agenda or gain; he believes in fairness, justice and equity.