Tor Tiv’s Death: Ortom, Burial C’ttee Inspect Tomb, Advocate Peaceful Succession.

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom and the Central Planning Committee for the burial of the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Alfred Akawe Torkula yesterday inspected the tomb where the remains of the deceased monarch would be laid.
Ortom and the committee, headed by Brig. General Atom Kpera (rtd) toured the graveyard located at Abagu area, beside the Tor Tiv’s palace in Gboko town, the ancestral home of the Tiv nation.

The inspection visit was to put finishing touches on the tomb and ensure that all other necessary arrangement was in place for a befitting burial for the late monarch.

Governor Ortom said the state government has set out modalities to ensure adequate security of lives and property during the traditional burial ceremony and noted that there would be no breach of law and order during the period.

According to Ortom, government has committed resources for the burial committee to fasten preparations because dignitaries including top government functionaries would be attending the funeral.

On the battle for succession, the governor said notification of interest and other matters would be looked into after the burial of the Tor Tiv and advised intermediate areas angling for the traditional stool to be peaceful and calm.

…Ranches Can End Herdsmen, Farmers Clash

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday said the establishment of ranches will end frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

Ortom stated this on ‘Weekend File,’ a network programme of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA.

He said the establishment of ranches will serve as the permanent solution although there were other short and medium term measures which include grazing reserves as suggested by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

According to Ortom, the establishment of ranches remained the best global best practice in animal husbandry saying it explained why there was no clash between farmers and herders in countries that have domesticated the practice and wondered why Nigeria has not adopted the method.

He suggested synergy between states and the Federal Government in the implementation of the policy.

In the interim, the Governor said measures that would promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders must be promoted and infringement on the right of either party should be handled within the ambit of the law without resort to self.

He said the relative peace currently witnessed in the state had been achieved through advocacy and dialogue with the relevant groups, assuring that his administration had intensified collaboration with security agencies to tackle pockets of crimes in some parts of the state.