‘We’re not in animal kingdom’ — Ortom insists on anti-open grazing law

BENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said there is no way the country will survive the practice of open grazing of animals.

Ortom, who said open-grazing which has become a menace in the country, expressed hope that a government will come and accept ranching as the best practices for animal husbandry.

The governor spoke while playing host to the leadership of Correspondent Chapel at the conference room of the government house, Makurdi.

The governor said, “It is annoying to see cattle blocking the federal highway, there are occasions when my convoy would have to wait for cattle in Abuja to pass before we can move.

“On the issue of open grazing, we have now become a model, because, I think that this is the best approach to end the farmer/herders clash.”

Ortom noted that the anti-open grazing law would eventually turn out to be like the legendary June 12 in the history of the country adding that one day, it “will be accepted.

“Just like June 12 was rejected and later accepted where the major actors, the late Abiola and Kingigbe, were honoured, the same way, our anti-open grazing law will one day be accepted in this country as the best way for animal husbandry.

“I don’t see us surviving open grazing in Nigeria because we are not in an animal kingdom,” he said.