We Have No Land For Cattle Colonies, Benue Leaders Tell Buhari

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Prominent leaders of thought from Benue State on Monday at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari pointedly said that there is no land to allow for the establishment of cattle colonies as being proposed by the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, in their state.

The leaders, made up of the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Professor James Ayatse, former Governor of the state, Senator George Akume, Senator Barnabas Gemade, former Senate President, David Mark, retired General Atom Kpera among others, stated this in clear terms to President Buhari at a closed door meeting in the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Governor Samuel Ortom, who led the delegation, said the Minister of Agriculture had explained that cattle colonies are a combination of several ranches and is proposing that 10,000 hectares of land should be provided for that purpose.

Ortom said; “In Benue, we don’t have 10,000 hectares of land for colonies. Other states may have, but we don’t have in Benue State.”