Why I have not been killed – Gov Ortom

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The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said that if not for the media, some powerful people would have killed him.

The governor said this in a chat with Vanguard.

He noted that the media have restrained some people from doing some certain things.

Ortom insisted that the anti-open grazing law established in the state is not the cause of killing of innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen.
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He added, “Thee people are afraid to kill me because if they do that the media will shout. There are certain things or actions that certain people would have done if they had their way, but it is like the entire Nigerian media are working with me and are supporting the course that I am pursuing on this matter.

“And so that alone has restrained them from doing certain things they would have done against me.

“So the role of the media in nation building, reshaping the opinion of the people and causing things to work is very critical and in my case, if not for the role you have played nobody would have heard us.

“Several attempts were made to block your reports, I know the intimidation from certain quarters against you; some of you have been branded to be promoting hate speeches and they have called you names, yet you have never stopped promoting the truth.

“And I tell you the Bible says whatever you do, do it as unto God, it is only God that rewards in this life.

“I tell you the truth, the Bible says you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. In Nigeria today, we have no business being where we are. We would have been far ahead of where we are today but for a long time we have suppressed the truth.

“We must promote the truth, we must respect the constitution and the rule of law.

“I felt so sad when the Minister of Defence and the IG of police were acting the script of Miyetti Allah instead of doing the jobs for which they are collecting tax payers money every month.

“If not, how can you say that the Prohibition of open grazing and provision for ranching law of 2017 in Benue state brought about those killings? Didn’t the killings take place in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017?

“This law is a necessity arising from the killings that were taking place. And for us we sought to bring a permanent solution with the perennial problem of herdsmen and farmers clashes and we did our research and globally we adopted global best practice which is ranching for all types of animals.

“And so it is amazing for anyone to assert that it is because of the law. In any case, is this law in Adamawa state, how many people did we hear that were killed?

“And almost everyday people are killed. Do we have the law in Plateau State, Kaduna State and Nassarawa State? We already have more than 10,000 IDPs from Nassarawa State camping in Benue State. Do they have this law in Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa and Rivers states?”



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