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Benue PDP challenges Alia over FG grazing reserve plan

From The Punch · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The opposition PDP in Benue State, Nigeria, is challenging Governor Hyacinth Alia to state his position on the Federal Government's grazing reserve plan.
  • The plan faces opposition from various groups, including Catholic priests and the PDP, who cite concerns over land grabbing and past violence.
  • The governor's aide urged patience, stating the governor is consulting and will prioritize the state's interests, but the PDP demands a clear, public declaration.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria's Benue State has publicly challenged Governor Hyacinth Alia to clarify his stance on the Federal Government's controversial plan to establish a grazing reserve within the state. The opposition party's demand comes amid growing resistance to the proposal from various quarters, including the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests of the Makurdi Diocese.

Tell Benue people where you belong.

— PDPThe PDP issued a statement demanding Governor Alia declare his position on the federal grazing reserve plan.

The PDP, along with other groups, has rejected the grazing reserve initiative, citing deep-seated anxieties among the populace. Benue communities have a history of suffering killings, displacement, and loss of ancestral lands due to attacks by armed herders. Consequently, any proposal involving grazing reserves, livestock settlements, or land allocation for ranching naturally fuels apprehension.

The PDP expressed concern that the current ranching program could be a guise for land grabbing. They argue that the governor's silence on this critical issue is unacceptable and cannot be masked by public relations statements. The party insists that the governor must address these fears openly and unequivocally, rather than advising worried citizens to wait while the government deliberates behind closed doors.

The governor is fully engaged on the matter and remains in consultation with the people and relevant authorities.

— Kula TersooThe Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia urged patience, stating the governor was consulting on the grazing reserve issue.

In response to the mounting pressure, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kula Tersoo, had previously urged caution. Tersoo stated that Governor Alia had not adopted a position detrimental to the state's interests and was actively consulting with the people and relevant authorities. He emphasized that the governor would approach the issue with careful consideration, ensuring the foremost priority remains the welfare of Benue State and its people. However, the PDP remains unsatisfied, demanding a direct and unambiguous declaration from the governor himself.

The fear among many Benue people is that what is being presented as a ranching programme could ultimately become a land grabbing scheme by another name.

— PDPThe PDP expressed the widespread fear among Benue residents that the grazing reserve plan could be a disguised land grab.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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