Group tackles Ortom over water resources bill

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, has been accused of plots to monopolise cattle rearing business in the Middle-Belt. 

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG), which made this known at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, also warned the governor not to set the region on fire.

Speaking on behalf of the group,  Prince Enero, its national president, said Ortom perceives the Fulanis as a threat.

The bill initiated in 2019, among other things, seek to establish a regulatory framework for the water resources sector, provide for the equitable and sustainable development management, use and conserve Nigeria’s surface water, groundwater resources and related matters.

Ortom, who has persistently voiced his displeasure, said the bill is anti-federalism aimed to grab lands for pastoralists.

However, MBCG said the governor’s criticism without reaching out to the NASS is a strategic way of priming Benue people to embrace violence if the legislation is eventually passed.

“We are also aware that Benue State has 14 representatives in the National Assembly – three in the Senate and 11 in the House of Representatives. If he comes down from his high horse and coordinate these representatives to lobby their colleagues in the National Assembly, Benue state alone can singularly shut down the National Water Resources Bill, ” Enero said.

“But because Ortom scarcely has any track record of cordial relations with anyone, he is not able to wield such influence hence the resort to inflammatory rhetoric without a thought for how this affects the long-term peace and stability of the Middle Belt, including Benue state.

“Even if the National Assembly were to go ahead and pass the bill against all protestations, there is room to lobby and mount pressure against Mr. President assenting to the document; which must be done responsibly and not the current loutish approach that we have so far seen from the Benue state governor. It is an exercise that is guaranteed to succeed if Ortom can redeem himself on time to appear responsible before his fellow governors to garner support for such enterprise.

“In the most extreme case, the judiciary is there as the last hope of all citizens and Governor Ortom is welcome to approach the law courts to stop the National Water Resources Bill if the amendment passed through and not resort to whipping up sentiment and inciting people to violence. “