Anti-Open Grazing Law : Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Niger Delta, Middle Belt Back Ortom

The governor and people of Benue State have received a swell of support from sympathetic Southern and Middle Belt leaders as controversy over the state’s anti-open grazing law rages.

Leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Niger Delta and the Middle Belt on Wednesday assured the government and people of the state that they were solidly behind them and would support them should the need arise.
The groups, which formed what will henceforth be known as the Southern-Middle Belt Forum, also made a call for the replication of the anti-open grazing law in all the states of the federation.

This happened when the groups visited Samuel Ortom, the Benue State governor, to condole with him over 75 persons that lost their lives in the state this year as a result of herdsmen attacks.
Various speakers and opinions leaders from the groups who spoke at the occasion registered their support for Benue.

Former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, called for the adoption of the anti-open grazing law in all the 36 states and the FCT.
He also spoke against the proposed cattle colony, saying, “No murderer should be allowed to come close, not to talk about occupying the land of victims.

Former Minister of Information, John Nwodo, lamented that any reasonable person would be alarmed by the hemorrhage going on in the country.

Nwodo said: €œNigeria is crumbling both on the security and economic fronts,” adding, “your case (herdsmen attacks) is a test case for a new aggression in Nigeria.
He said the Nigerian constitution was a fraud.
“I have never seen a country that practises democracy and does not listen to the voice of the people, thus the need for restructuring,” he stated.
Nwodo spoke for Ohanaeze Ndigbo at the occasion.

According to him, We came here to tell you that you are not alone and we will not allow another (attack) to happen.
“We shall rise from this grief stronger, more united, and determined to quench tyranny in our land.
He said he and his group were not happy over the visit of Governor Ortom to Abuja, but added that “your going to Abuja was a sign of respect and not weakness.

He observed that it should have been the other way, because “the killing of 75 persons in Benue is not the killing of 75 chickens.

Chief Edwin Clark, who spoke for the Niger Delta, said: “We tell you, the people of Benue, that you have paid your dues to this country. Justice must be done for the people of Benue.”
Clark was represented by Chief Enang Idongesit.
According to him, “What has happened will not happen again because we shall come together.

€œWe say there should be a Nigeria but a Nigeria with Justice.
Leader of the Middle Belt, Bala Kakaya, said: “Let’s call it (the killings) by its true name; it’s no other than ethnic cleansing.
He said the ‘handshake across the Niger’ has become a reality at last with the coming together of the Middle Belt and the South.
Kakaya continued: “The bloodshed is getting too much. The bloodshed of the departed in Benue will not go in vain.
“The visit is to encourage you; you have done marvelously.

€œYou have taken the first step by enacting the anti-open grazing law, which other people are copying and must copy. So be steadfast, be strong; we are solidly behind you.
The Southern/Middle Belt Forum commended Ortom for the manner in which he had so far handled the crisis, describing him as a “civilian general”.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who spoke on behalf of Afenifere, reiterated his stand that President Muhammadu Buhari was not, and is not, the right person to lead the country.

He explained that when he pointed this out before Buhari was elected, he was accused of spreading hate speeches.
He remarked that the result was now bare for all to see.
He stressed the call for restructuring and decried the situation where the security apparatus of a nation was in the hands of one man, Buhari.

Adebanjo told Governor Ortom that,
Any step you take to get out of this bondage; we stand solidly behind you.”
The three socio-cultural groups in the state have said they would prevail on Governor Ortom to pull out of the Northern Governors’ Forum should the Federal Government fail to resolve the crisis.
President Omi’ Igede, Odey Enyi, who disclosed this, said it was high time the forum condemned the killings in Benue.
Other speakers on the Benue side were favourably disposed to the idea of forming an alliance with the people of the south.
On his part, Governor Ortom threw his weight behind the call for the restructuring of the country.
He said recent developments had opened his eyes to the need for restructuring.
The other people present included former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; Senator Chris Anyanwu; Senator Stella Omu; human rights activist, Yinka Odumakin; ex-governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu; Colonel Tony Nyiam; music icon, Innocent Idibia (Tuface), and Mrs. Esther Audu, among others.
Four More Persons Feared Dead In Guma, Logo
Meanwhile, four persons are feared dead in Logo and Guma local government areas (LGAs) of Benue State.
Ortom disclosed this while playing host to the Southern/Middle Belt Forum in Makurdi on Wednesday at Benue Peoples’ House, Makurdi.
Two of the dead were from Logo while the other two were recovered in Guma on Tuesday.
Although, the governor did not give more details, he said he was still worried because pockets of killings were still going on.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, confirmed that some persons were killed in Guma.
He, however, said he was yet to be briefed of the incident in Logo.
Ohanaeze Youths Issue Quit Notice To Fulani Herdsmen
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has ordered Fulani herdsmen to vacate the South-East forthwith.
The warning, which was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday after the OYC’s emergency meeting in Umuahia, did not issue a time frame.
In a five-point communique the group said the operations of herdsmen in the zone had been banned.
The communiqu was signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide; Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, Secretary General, and Engr Obinna Adibe, the National Publicity Secretary.

Part of the statement reads:
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide met and discussed extensively the recent killing by Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria and resolved as follows:
That the activities of Fulani herdsmen and the Benue massacre is unfortunate and can cause another avoidable tension in the country, especially now the 2019 election is around the corner.
“We condemned vehemently the terrorist attack of the Fulani herdsmen and call for self-defence as a measure to halt it.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide has banned and proscribed the outlawed Fulani herdsmen in Igboland, especially in the 95 LGAs of South-East, and called on the youths not to take the law into their own hands but want the Federal Government to declare them a terrorist group.
“We hail the people’s governor of Abia, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, and the heroic stand of governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano, for rejecting the cattle colonies in Abia and Anambra states.
“We know other Igbo governors will follow the footsteps of their colleagues and reject these anti-people’s policy.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to establish piggies colonies in Northern Nigeria to help feed our people over there.
“We are calling on our people to be vigilant and report to security agents the activities of any suspected Fulani herdsmen.
“We issue this warning to all the Fulani herdsmen that they should vacate South-East immediately or face the wrath of Igbo youths, and any attempt to ignore this warning, they have themselves to blame.
“We restate that all the activities of Fulani herdsmen have been proscribed and banned in South-East with immediate effect.

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