GOVERNOR SAMUEL ORTOM'S UNTIRING QUEST FOR PEACE

A pre-requisite for Good Governance and Sustainable Development.

By Teryila Ibn Apine

Leadership is one of the most observed and at the same time least understood phenomenon.

The world over, has been a burning desire among various people and government for unity, Justice, peace and stability. In the face of problems generated by political, social and economic instability and the prevalence of the ethnic communal and religious crisis, the quest for selfless leadership is mandatory for good governance and sustainable development.

The first and fundamental duty of any Government is to afford the protection of lives and properties of its citizens. This has been the resolve and determination of Governor Samuel Ortom since assumption of office.

Taking over a state that was bedevilled with both communal and the Fulani insurgent attacks. Governor Ortom, immediately set in place the machinery of government to bring about long lasting peace and security.

The Government has not been pretentious or paying lip service in his desire to ensure peace and security for the people of the state.

Not too long after been sworn in, Governor Samuel Ortom adopted the carrot and stick approach to the issue of security. He granted amnesty to all those in possession of illegal firearms, Armed robbers, cultists, gangsters and criminals.

This singular gesture of the government recorded huge success as notorious and dare devil armed robbers came up to surrender their weapons. At the end of the amnesty programme which has been commended by states, Federal Government and international bodies, about 700 youths, 500 assorted arms and thousands of ammunition were surrendered.

Beneficiaries of the amnesty programme have undergone a retreat and being sorted out into various aspects of the program include, a return to school, skills acquisition and integration into the information gathering system of the security apparatus.

With the coming to an end of the amnesty programme, (carrot approach) the Governor directed all security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution any one who is in possession of illegal arms or who distabilises the peace of the state.

Very worrisome Was the incessant attacks of herd men on some communities in the state leading to the displacement of thousands of people and destruction of properties worth millions of Naira. Governor Samuel Ortom made it a deliberate policy of his government to engage the herdsmen and farmers in meaningful discussions and dialogue which has reduced drastically the frequent clashes between these two groups.

The Governor's desire to maintain peace at the borders between Nasarawa and Benue, yesterday led a high powered delegation from Benue to Nasarawa State for a joint peace meeting to further boost security along the borders of the two states and circumvent the Fulani herdsmen and farmers clashes. A communique was issued and jointly signed by the Governor's of the two states with the following recommendations :

i) The two States should tackle this problem frontally;

ii) Intensify surveillance and patrol activities in their border
areas;

iii) Identify the perpetrators, sponsors/financiers of this
heinous crime and be made to face the full wrath of the law;

iv) Identify and expose routes and hideouts being used by
criminal gangs and their collaborators;

v) Allow Fulani herdsmen access to and from across river
Benue;

vi) Fulani herdsmen should refrain from trespassing and
occupying farmlands and communities;

vii) Farmers and herdsmen should also refrain from taking
laws into their hands at the slightest provocation; they
should endeavor to report any trespass or breach of their
rights to the constituted authority nearest to them;

Viii Every community should take security issues seriously
and as a matter of priority establish a local security
committee comprising community leaders, security
personnel, youth and vigilante groups. The Committee
should undertake advocacy and enlightenment, profiling of
migrants into communities and mopping of illegal arms and
ammunition as well as disarmament on both sides;

ix The two Governors should jointly visit Agatu areas on
both sides of the two States with a view to pacifying the
already aggrieved people of Agatu extraction;

x Regular visit on each other by Traditional Rulers and
Chairmen of Local Government Councils from Nasarawa
and Benue States, particularly those at the border areas;

xi Establishment of Joint Security Committee for the two
States to ensure total disarmament by both communities in
Nasarawa and Benue States with membership as follows:

a) Deputy Governors of the two States;
b) SSGs of the two States;
c) Commissioners of Police of the two States;
d) State Directors of DSS of the two States;
e) Commanding Officers of the Nigerian Army in the two
States;
f) Special Advisers, Security of the two States;
g) Special Advisers, Special Duties of the two States;
xii Task Force for disarmament by the two States;
xiii Constitution of Joint Peace and Reconciliation
Committee by the two States with members as follows:
a) Jointx State Chairmen of the Peace and Reconciliation
Committees of the two States;
b) Chairmen of Local Government Councils at the border
areas of the two States;
c) Security Chiefs at the border areas of the two States;
d) Traditional Rulers at the border areas of the two States;
e) Cultural Leaders (Agatu and Fulani) at the border areas of
the two States;
f) Vigilante groups at the border areas of the two States; and
g) Clergymen at the border areas of the two States.
Long Term:
i) Nasarawa and Benue States in liaison with the Federal
Government should set-up grazing areas and also
encourage the establishment of ranches by individuals,
groups and organization for cattle rearing; and
ii) Nasarawa and Benue States in liaison with the National
Boundary Commission should look into the issue of
demarcation of boundaries between the two States.

Governor Ortom held similar meetings with his Taraba State counterpart, all in a bid to prevent clashes between people of the two states.

On the day Ortom and Ishaku met in Makurdi, along with the Tor Tiv, the Och’Idoma, the Aku Uka of Wukari and the Chief of Tor-Donga, the place Terwase Akwaza, Alias Ghana hails from, both of them agreed to establish cattle ranches in the two states in order to reduce incidences of clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

They also agreed that the amnesty programme covers everybody/groups holding illegal arms and all should surrender illegal arms in their possession. They further resolved that a joint military/police patrol should be drafted from the two states to intensify security surveillance at the border areas.

The two governors agreed that communities from both states should be sensitized on the need for peaceful coexistence between them on one hand and between them and herdsmen on the other hand. They resolved that communities that have found themselves in either of the states should submit themselves to the authorities in the state and respect the rules and tenets of such states.

They also agreed to provide relief materials for internally displaced persons and urged traditional rulers in the two states to interact regularly so as to enhance peaceful coexistence. Both governors resolved to establish a joint Benue/Taraba peace committee to monitor potential threats to peace, establish agro allied industries to absorb the teeming youths and make efforts towards demarcating Benue-Taraba borders.

Again, while at a peace meeting at the Och'Idoma's palace and in anticipation of the desire of certain politicians to perpetrate violence in the forth coming senatorial rerun elections, the Governor extended the amnesty programme for people in the Benue South Senatorial District also known as Zone C. This is in a bid to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.

Worthy of mention is the total elimination of thuggery and gangstarism in the state. Before now it was a known fact that governments always maintained a hit men gang vested with the responsibility of intimidating, harassing, beating up and even eliminating perceived enemies and critics of government.

This group no longer exist in the state as the governor has maintained that young people must channel their energies into productive ventures and key into the youth development initiatives of his administration.

With the Governor's Untiring Quest for Peace and unity, this writer is convinced that this will led to good governance as no meaningful development takes place in an environment of anarchy or war.

With the dwindling prices of crude oil and a deliberate policy of both the Federal and state government to revert to Agriculture, the elimination of clashes between herdsmen and farmers will no doubt boost agricultural activities in our rural areas. In Sankera axis comprising of Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala, where Terwase Akwasa, Alias 'Ghana' held sway and terrorised people. The zone is known the world over for the production yams and as hosting the largest Yam market in West Africa.

For those who have witnessed or have been visited by insecurity and it's aftermath, this initiative of Governor Samuel Ortom is commendable and I elect to commend this peace moves. Even as I encourage the Governor not to relent until total peace is achieved.

Security agencies must be further equipped with modern day surveillance gadgets, sophisticated weapons and logistics to confront the security challenges of the state. Community policing is a sure way of achieving peace in our local areas.

Arrested criminals should be allowed to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others. The era of government officials calling security agencies to release some bad boys involved in crime must be allowed to remain a history.

Peace is the mandatory ingredient for good governance and sustainable development.

No price is too much to pay for Peace and unity...