From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Over 2,000 Benue women across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, yesterday, stormed the Government House in Makurdi, to demonstrate their solidarity for the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law.
The women, old and young, some of whom were half naked, walked through the streets of Makurdi and chantedsolidarity songs to expresses their happiness and support for the stance of Governor Samuel Ortom on the new law.
Bearing placards which read “Respect anti-open grazing law. Governor Samuel Ortom, go ahead,” “We support anti-open grazing law,’’ among others, the women marched to the seat of power amid tight security.
The governor personally received them, alongside his wife, Eunice, and other top officials of his government. He thanked them for their solidarity and understanding, and stressed that the law is a win-win for everyone.
Ortom reiterated that there is no more vacant land in the state and added that the state’s population has increased from about one million in the 1950s to about eight million presently. He added that farming and ranching cannot co-exist on the same land.
“We love everyone resident in Benue including the Fulani, but we cannot continue to live with killers who have no respect for human lives. This law is to the benefit everybody as it would encourage economic activities as well as encourage the Fulani to stay in one place and ranch their cows among other benefits.”
Those who want to stay in Benue would be given enabling environment to carry out their businesses lawfully but those who don’t want the law can quietly exit the state without ran our and we assure them that security would be provided to them to do so.
The governor however urged Benue people especially the youths to be law abiding and not take laws into their hands by attacking either Fulani or their cattle stressing that any infringement should be reported to the appropriate authority.
Wife of the governor, Eunice, thanked the women for keeping faith with her husband’s administration adding that the security of the state was paramount.
She stated that she was so overwhelmed when she heard that women from all parts of the state in collaboration with faith based organization were coming to demonstrate in support of the newly implemented law positing that this had greatly encouraged them.
Spokespersons from the Tiv, Idoma and Igede areas of the state expressed happiness with the new law and maintained that they can now go to their farms without any fear even as they prayed that the law should catch up with anyone who goes against the law.
END.