Gov Lalong backtracks, denounces proposed cattle colonies

The governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who was among the very few governors said to have accepted the Federal Government’s proposal to establish cattle colonies in their states, on Friday dumped the idea.

The governor also refuted rumours making the round on social media that he had carved out parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas for the state for the establishment of cattle colonies.

The governor, who analysts believe has always accepted hook line and sinker, every policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, whether good or bad, however said on Friday that the cattle colonies issue is not in his imagination.

He made this known in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang.

“The attention of the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong has been drawn to the news making the rounds, particularly in the Social Media that parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos LGAs have been carved out for the creation of colonies for cattle, in fulfilment of his promises to the Fulani who have pressured him, to either cede those areas or he faces the other side of their viciousness which may cost his aspirations.

“The governor herein state unequivocally that this thinking is not only the figment of the imagination of its authors, who want to make political capital out of it, but false, malicious and highly mischievous.

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“Governor Simon Bako Lalong has and does not contemplate such action and he further call on all good citizens of Plateau to bury such imagination of these elements bent on throwing the State into confusion. Cattle colonies are not in the imagination of Governor Lalong.

“Consequently, the Governor urge all peace loving citizens of Plateau State to discountenance such mischievous information but to gravitate towards issues that unite us rather than those that divide us.”

Lalong over the last few weeks had put himself in the firing line of critics, when he criticized his colleague in Benue state, Samuel Ortom for establishing the anti-open grazing law.

He said he had warned Ortom not to go that way.

His comments coming soon after the killing of some people in Benue State by suspected herdsmen, attracted a lot of criticism his way, forcing him to tender an apology to Ortom and the people of Benue State.

 

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