Herdsmen killings: Buhari’s Minister, Dan Ali ‘is an illiterate,’ he must resign – Benue elder, Ujege

President General of Mdzough U Tiv, Edward Ujege has rubbished the
call by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali that states should
suspend the anti-open grazing law, following the continued crisis
between herdsmen and farmers across the country.

Dan-Ali had explained that the enactment of the law was responsible
for the continued crisis between herdsmen and farmers across the
country.


Some states of the Federation enacted the Anti-Open Grazing Law as a
panacea to the persistent crisis between herdsmen and farmers.

States that have so far enacted the Anti-Open Grazing Law include,
Benue, Abia and Nasarawa states, despite calls for its suspension.

Following the enactment of the law, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Associations have vowed to opposedthe law since there was no
alternative yet for cattle rearers.

However, speaking with DAILY POST, President General of Mdzough U Tiv,
Edward Ujege described Ali-Mansur as an 'Illiterate" who is not fit to
occupy the position of a Minister.

According to Ujege, "That man is an Illiterate who is not qualified to
be a Minister. He doesn't know how to respond to issues. He is not
current with what is happening in the country. Out of the 36 states in
the country, three-quarter is being ravaged by herdsmen, do those
other people have the laws enacted in their state? For instance in
Plateau, Nassarawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Ondo and Enugu states where there
are killings, do they have the law? That is why I said the man is an
illiterate and not current with what is going on.

"If he is current with the constitution, he will understand that it
empowers the National Assembly and the state governments to make laws
for the benefit of people that are there. Mind you, we are not in a
military rule that we are living by decrees but by constitutions and
laws that are being made. And he should know that by repealing a law
you have to go back to the people that made it, that is the reasons
why I said he is an illiterate. We are not in a military regime and he
doesn't know what is happening in the country. Mansur is not qualified
to be in that position, he should resign."

Ujege said the people of the state have turned to God as their source
of defence since they have no money to buy arms.

The Tiv elder statesman noted that people of the state will continue
to ensure their defence until normalcy returns to the state.


"We don't have arms and don't intend to in Benue State. I think our
God is heavier than those with arms, we are telling the government now
that we have a God and he will fight for us. We don't have AK-47, we
don't have the money to buy them. Benue people don't have any means
but to depend on God. We know that we will be killed but not
everybody. The few remaining and those unborn will deal with this
until we find haven for ourselves," he added