Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to apologise to him for treating States of the Federation unequally on issues of ranching.
Ortom said President Muhammadu Buhari should approve and release the sum of N100 billion for ranching in Benue State.
He spoke at the Makurdi Airport at the backdrop of revelation by Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Bello Masari who disclosed that Buhari has already approved N6.25 billion for ranching, out of which N5 billion has been released to the State government.
Katsina Governor disclosed the development while commissioning Zobe water project in Dutsinma Katsina State on Friday.
Ortom described Buhari’s action as a height of deceit and hypocrisy for the Federal Government to approve N6.25 billion for ranching in Katsina State and released N5 billion, while same government is creating cattle routes and encouraging open grazing in other states of the federation.
“Mr. President has graciously approved N6.25 billion for ranch development purposes in Katsina State, out of which N5 billion is in the account of the state government”, he said.
Ortom wondered how President Buhari could be this hypocritical in handling the State affairs.
“If the President would say that the Attorney-General of the Federation should ensure the relocation of those who have encroached on cattle routes and grazing areas to do open grazing despite the surge in the population from less than 40 million in 1950 to the over 200 million people today;
“And the same President is encouraging ranching in Katsina State where he comes from, that is certainly laughable and very hypocritical and deceitful.
“We need an explanation because it is a shame. Since 2017 we have been for ranching and of course you recall that the Governor of Katsina State did say that it is unIslamic for anybody to talk about open grazing.
“The prohibition of open grazing is the only thing that will help this country, including the provision for ranching.
“So if the President has approved N6.5 billion for Katsina State, they should also approve N100 billion for Benue State with an apology to me.
“It is not right for the Federal Government to approve money for ranching in a state and leave others out.
“And in fact the governor of the state, in his remark, said N5 billion had already been remitted to their coffers. So I begin to wonder, where are we headed?”
Governor Ortom maintained that the APC-led government has brought about poverty to Nigerians at its highest level.
