BENUE State governor, Samuel Ortom, has stated that there are no cattle routes in his state.
The governor spoke at Buruku, Buruku Local Government Area, yesterday while interacting with officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN during his reelection campaign in the local government area.
He was reacting to the televised comments on President Muhammadu Buhari on cattle routes in the country.
The governor said the President’s overall performance was shameful and a confirmation of what his wife stated that having lost control a cabal had taken charge.
He stated that even if there were such routes which were gazetted he would have de-gazetted them as the current population of the state had made such routes untenable.
Governor Ortom stated that at the time such routes were contemplated in the sixties the entire population of the country was about 40 million while the current population is about 200 million thereby foreclosing the possibility of such routes.
He stated that he battled and overcame financial, social vices as well as security challenges during his first term which impacted negatively on his performance adding that if given a second mandate the end of his administration would be better than his rough beginning.
Governor Ortom stated that the All Progressives Congress, APC-controlled federal government failed to forestall attacks on the state by jihadists who openly declared their conquest and occupation agenda on the state and thereafter failed to give the people justice when they demanded it.
According to the governor, this development coupled with what he described as the deliberate neglect of Benue people by not giving them strategic positions in government prompted him to seek alternative platform on which to pursue his reelection.
He appealed to the people to seize the opportunity of the general elections this year to vote for all the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party who he said will protect their interests and guarantee their survival.
