With Dan-Ali As Defence Minister, Solution To Nigeria’s Security Crises Far In Sight – Ortom

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Friday described as most unfortunate the comments credited to the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, in which he said the anti-grazing law and arming of the state militia were responsible for killings in Benue State.

Governor Ortom stressed that having people like Dan-Ali in power, who are not able to give quality advice and also proffer solutions to the security problems in the country, it is clear answers to Nigeria’s security challenges are not in sight.

The Defence Minister while briefing State House correspondents on Thursday said; “Whatever crisis that happened at any time, there has to be remote and immediate causes. What are the remote causes of this farmers/herders crisis? Since Independence, we know there used to be a route whereby these cattle rearers (sic) use.

“Cattle rearers (sic) are all over the nation, you go to Bayelsa, you see them, you go to Ogun, you see them. If those routes are blocked, what happens? These people are Nigerians, it’s just like you going to block river or shoreline, does that make sense to you? These are the remote causes.

“But what are the immediate causes? It is the grazing law. These people are Nigerians, we must learn to live together with each other. That is basic. Communities and other people must learn how to accept foreigners within their enclave, finish!”

In his reaction in Makurdi, Benue State, Governor Ortom said he would want to console himself that the comments did not come from the Defence Minister.

Ortom further said; “But if it did, I will say that it is very unfortunate. Take for instance, if you say it is because of the law that killings by herdsmen are going on in Benue, is there any law prohibiting open grazing in Adamawa State? Is there any law in Plateau State? Is there any law in Kaduna, Ondo, Bayelsa, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta and Edo States? In Edo State, cattle have taken over even schools.”

Speaking on the disclosure by the Department of State Services (DSS), that the killings in Bunue State were being carried out by members of the deadly Islamic State in West Africa (ISIS), Governor Ortom said; “The other day, a report came from DSS that the ISIS terrorist group is taking over, yet the Defence minister is insisting that we should accommodate foreigners who come here illegally.

He then asked; “So if a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is coming out to encourage our citizens to do illegal things, I now begin to see why they have given immunity that is the prerogative of the President and the Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors to herdsmen who kill and even cattle.

“Cattle in Nigeria have immunity more than human beings. This is unfortunate and I look forward that he will apologise to us and retract what he said.

“It is an insult on our collective leadership. It is wrong and let the minister know that,” Ortom said.