Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has fingered members of the National Assembly (NASS) from the state for being responsible for the letters written to Fulani herders in Niger Republic, inviting them to come into Benue.
According to the Governor, the letters to the herders by the lawmakers suggests that the Benue Ranches Establishment and Open Grazing Prohibition Law (Anti-Open Grazing Law) in the state was no longer operational, adding that the federal legislators whom he described as ‘mischief makers’ would be disappointed for taking the action.
Although, the Governor did not mentioned the names of those that were actually responsible for sending out the letters, he alleged that those in the forefront of the ploy were NASS assembly members whose homes were currently under attack by herders.
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Recall that last week the Special Adviser to Governor Alia on Internal Security, Chief Joseph Har and the Special Adviser on External Security, Alexis Anshungu who jointly spoke with newsmen in Makurdi had insisted that the law prohibiting open grazing was still in force.
They had also met with leaders of herders’ associations in the state and warned them against contravening the law, adding that failure to comply, they would face the music.
Although, Governor did not mentioned the names of those who circulated the letters to the herders, he alleged that those in the forefront of the ploy were NASS members whose homes were currently under attack by herders.
He said, “Now, we have discovered some people in the NASS who wrote letters in the name of the State Government and went to the borders of Niger Republic and invited Fulani (herders) to come into Benue, that there are no longer issues.
“So, that’s the kind of people that we are dealing with at the moment. And that is why we have seen the influx of herders everywhere and it is the same people whose homes are around here (those that are being invaded) that are doing these things.
“And you begin to wonder what they are even thinking. But they are doing this because they want to discredit my government and no one can discredit my government.”
In furtherance to the allegation, the Principal Special Assistant (PSA), to Governor Alia on Print Media, Donald Kumun said, the Governor has vowed that he would not tolerate any plan aimed at destabilizing the state.
In a statement made available to Daily Independent in Makurdi on Monday and signed by Kumun, the Governor made the vow while addressing congregants after a Mass held at the Chapel of Grace, Government House, Makurdi on Sunday.
Governor Alia who sued for calm, explained that security agencies have been notified of the plot and have assured of safety for all and sundry.
According to the PSA, the Governor who is dismayed by the plot to destabilize him government said, “I am quite saddened to speak about what some fellow Benue citizens are doing. What they are planning and executing, which is not in favour of the state.
“Security reports have revealed that some Benue indigenes have gone out of their way to invite herdsmen all the way from Niger Republic to troop into Benue State; all in the name of bringing down my administration and this is unacceptable, but the security agents are doing their work.
“The Security apparatus (in Benue) is doing their work and those who would be found guilty of this, will not go unpunished. This is not the Benue we pray for; electioneering period is over and now is time for governance”, the Governor stated.
However, Alia was confident that at the end of the day the herders would return back to where they came from, even as he appealed to the people of the state to join hands with his administration to improve on the development of a Benue where everyone would has a sense of belonging.
He however stressed that “if you cannot join hands with this administration to improve the state; to bring development to Benue, where everyone has a sense of belonging, please leave the state.
“I appeal to the entire citizens that they should remain calm because my administration is not ready to welcome any crisis in Benue; crisis is not the portion of Benue state.
“Security agencies are ready to do everything possible for the people to have peace. The influx of herders will not harm anyone but they will return gradually to where they have come from.
“The mischief makers who wrote a letter inviting herders to come to Benue State, will be disappointed. I stand on the platform of a new Benue where development of both human and infrastructure development, is possible”, Alia declared.
The Governor used the occasion to appreciate his Spiritual Director, the Chaplaincy, Rev Clement Ugo, and the people of the state for supporting his administration through prayers and charged everyone to continue to stand by him and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
