Stop Siding Miyetti Allah, Ortom Blasts Defence Minister

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has criticized the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali for not standing with Nigerians regarding the anti-open grazing laws.

Recall that Dan-Ali, on June 5, called for the suspension of the anti-open grazing laws in Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states.

But the governor, speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the unveiling of the National Economic Council’s National Livestock Transformation Plan, said the minister should stop giving Nigerians the impression that he was the mouth piece of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.

He, therefore, asked him to apologise to Nigerians for demanding the suspension of anti-grazing law in some states.

“Honourable minister (Audu Ogbeh), just one thing, I’m part of this government and I appreciate what this government is doing, so since the honourable minister of defence is not a member of NEC and you are constantly in NEC and you are a member of the Federal Executive Council where other ministers will be there. What you have said is very important, there should have been a level of caution,” he said.

“In a time like this, we should be sensitive to what is going on. When the young man was making his remarks, he was literally shaking and it is coming from the heart and that is how most Nigerians are. I wonder if the defence minister has had time to read the newspapers, he would have felt the feelings of Nigerians for him calling for the suspension of a legitimate law by various states.

“It is not good enough, it is casting the government in bad light and the minister of the Federal Republic should represent the interest of Nigerians. He should not be the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah in a conflict involving Nigerians.

“Coming from a security council meeting and making such statements, some people took it as the opinion of the security council. When he clarified that it was his personal opinion, it solved some problems. He needs to apologise to Nigerians.”