Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has asked Fulanis, indigenous in Nigeria to speak out against the invasion of communities in Nigeria by their kinsmen from foreign countries.
Governor Ortom spoke on Wednesday at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi when he received a delegation of Nasarawa State Traditional Rulers on behalf of the State Government on a condolence visit.
The delegation was led by the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo.
The Nasarawa State Traditional council visited the state to condole Governor Ortom and the Benue State traditional council over the yet-to-be announced death of the Ochi’Doma, Elias Ikoyi Obekpa.
Governor Ortom explained that the Tiv people, Fulanis and other Nigerians had lived together peacefully until foreign Fulanis were allowed to move into the country unchecked to cause the current violence being witnessed in the country.
On the ranching law, Governor Ortom explained that the law is a win-win for herders and farmers as it prohibits open grazing and cattle rustling, stressing that the law does not spare any offender from prosecution, including natives.
The Governor expressed appreciation for the visit, stressing that as brothers, it was incumbent on them to sympathize or rejoice with one another when the time permits, the reason he attended the coronation of the Emir of Keffi, Dr Chindo.
Governor Ortom acknowledged his Nasarawa State counterpart, Engineer Abdullahi Sule for his efforts to ensure peace between people of the two states, saying the traditional institution also have a great role to play in that regard.
Leader of the delegation and Emir of Keffi, Dr Chindo, who also recalled his early days in Makurdi where he attended his primary education, presented a condolence letter to Governor Ortom from the Governor of Nasarawa State, saying the news of Och’Idoma was an unfortunate incident for Benue, Nasarawa and the entire country.
He expressed hope that the “conflict entrepreneurs who are benefitting from the farmer-herder crises will one day regret,” stressing that the Tiv and Fulanis were made by God and cannot separate.
The Emir also expressed appreciation to Governor Ortom for personally attending his coronation and the support he gave for the occasion, even as he prayed God to guide him through his administration
