Benue Governor Samuel Ortom has critised President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly approving the establishment of ranching in Katsina State, while the Federal government insists on the operation of open grazing in other states.
Ortom, an ardent critic of President Buhari, said about N6.5bn was allegedly approved for the establishment of ranching in Katsina, and that about N5bn of that had already been allegedly released to President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state.
This, Ortom said, was hypocritical and contradictory to the President’s support for open grazing.
Ortom therefore demanded an apology from the Federal Government as well as approval of N100bn to Benue for ranching.
Ortom’s comment came as reaction to reports that the Federal Government’s had approved the sum of N6.5 billion to Katsina State for the establishment of ranches, during a chat with reporters in Makurdi.
“It is hypocrisy for the federal government to approve money for ranching in a state and leave others out. And in fact, the Governor of (Katsina) state in his remarks said N5billion had already been remitted to their coffers. So, I begin to wonder, where are we headed?” the governor said.
“If the President has approved N6.5billion for Katsina state, they should also approve N100billion for Benue state with an apology to me because we started it.”
According to Ortom, the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has failed the nation, noting that Nigerians under the administration were suffering and smiling.
“That man (Fela) spoke prophetically about what we are going through in Nigeria. Today, Nigerians are truly suffering and smiling. I feel so sad because we have failed our country but I pray God helps us.
“Tell me where we are economically, security-wise, politically where is Nigeria? So, when I hear people say that they are decamping from one political party to the APC, one wonders what they are going there to do.
“Even you the journalists who are talking to me, can you, in all honesty, say this government of APC and the presidency have impacted your lives? So we must not be afraid to speak out,” Ortom said.
