POLITICS:180,000 IGPs Live In Benue, Defense Minister Protecting Herdsmen- Governor Ortom .

The Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, has said called on the Minister of Defense, Mansur Dan-Ali to apologise to citizens over needless herdsmen killings.

Governor Ortom also said that Dan-Ali is presently acting in defense of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association instead of fighting for protect Nigerians.

He made these statements in Abuja at the unveiling of the National Economic Council’s National Livestock Transformation Plan as part of efforts to end clashes between farmers and herdsmen.Recall that Dan-Ali had earlier called for the suspension of the anti-open grazing laws in Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states as a measure to ending herdsmen and farmers clash.

Honourable minister (Audu Ogbeh), just one thing, I’m part of this government and I appreciate what this government is doing, so since the honourable minister of defence is not a member of NEC and you are constantly in NEC and you are a member of the Federal Executive Council where other ministers will be there. What you have said is very important, there should have been a level of caution.

“In a time like this, we should be sensitive to what is going on. When the young man was making his remarks, he was literally shaking and it is coming from the heart and that is how most Nigerians are. I wonder if the defence minister has had time to read the newspapers, he would have felt the feelings of Nigerians for him calling for the suspension of a legitimate law by various states.

“It is not good enough, it is casting the government in bad light and the minister of the Federal Republic should represent the interest of Nigerians. He should not be the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah in a conflict involving Nigerians.”, Ortom said.

Continuing the whose people have been killed in large number due to clashes between herdsmen and farmers, insisted that the Dan-Ali should give priority to Agriculture ministry.

“Coming from a security council meeting and making such statements, some people took it as the opinion of the security council. When he clarified that it was his personal opinion, it solved some problems. He needs to apologise to Nigerians. Over 180,000 internally displaced persons in eight camps in the state and 500,000 people were living with relative”.