By our correspondent
As the insecurity problem rocking Benue State worsens, Member representing Makurdi/Guma in the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Mzondu, has urged the Tiv people in the state to refrain from all antagonistic posture against Governor Samuel Ortom in the fight against open grazing.
With particular reference to former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Steven Tsav and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Titus Zam, Mzondu cautioned them to refrain from the act to escape being judged by history.
It would be recalled that the duo and a few others in a recent statement, attempted to blackmail Governor Ortom on the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
But Mzondu in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi yesterday, noted that Tsav, Zam and their contraveners, going by their posture, appear to be agents of Miyetti Allah, the Fulani sociocultural organization and armed Fulani herdsmen who have been killing and terrorizing the people of the state.
The Lawmaker warned that the people of Iharev and the entire Tiv race will not forgive any Tiv personality who for any reason chooses to align with the armed herdsmen and their sponsors for political reasons.
“It is my appeal that Zam, Tsav and other Tiv sons playing politics with the killing of Benue farmers by armed Fulani herdsmen retreat their steps and stand with Governor Ortom to salvage, not just Iharev communities but the entire Benue State from the hands of invaders and their pay masters.
“It is only by doing so (retreating their steps) that history will be kind to them and record them as those that fought on the side of their people,” Mzondu said.
He reminded Zam, Tsav and their allies that their acts of chicanery is already dead on arrival, as Nigerians are all aware of the intentions of the armed Fulani herdsmen and their sponsors which tilts towards fulanisation and islamisation.
“Therefore, no amount of blackmail and negative profiling of Governor Samuel Ortom will change the perception of the people of Benue State that he is a leader that has sacrificed his life and office for the liberation of his people,” he added.
On the allegation that Governor Ortom used the anti open grazing law to win elections, Mzondu wondered whether the governors of other states and their legislators who passed a similar law, are using theirs for election purposes.
“If one may ask, is Zam and Tsav aware that the issue of banning open grazing of cattle is no longer perculiar to Benue State. Did the Governors of those states and the legislators in their Houses of Assembly also promulgate the law for political reasons as they alluded of Governor Ortom whom they said did it to win election?” he further questioned.
The Lawmaker further stressed that the law banning open grazing has come to stay in the state and no amount of blackmail will lead to its repeal.
