A social cultural organization of the Benin people, the Benin National Congress, BNC, has said that Edo people will overwhelmingly resist the Federal Government’s proposed cattle colony under any pretext.
This is against the background of the inclusion of Edo State among the ten pilot States for cattle ranching.
The BNC also demanded that the Benin Nation be included in the Amnesty program of the Federal government.
The group, in a statement in Benin on Wednesday signed by its President, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo shortly after its emergency meeting, said “we wish to respectfully remind Edo State Governor that Benin youths are more worried over their exclusion from the amnesty program, and will request his solidarity with the Benin National Congress than his perceived tacit support for ranching.
“Our farm lands are being daily deserted because of the heinous activities of herdsmen, our counterparts in Niger Delta are enjoying skill acquisition and scholarship programs of the amnesty office under the National Security Adviser.
“Our youths are completely excluded as a federal Government directive without any clear reason, perhaps, because our people have not shown inclination and tenacity in armed militancy.
“Why are the Benins been punished for their peace and hospitality? Our senatorial district is host to the largest gas terminal in West Africa, oil and gas pipelines transverses our seven Local Government Areas, and oil has been discovered in very large proportions in six out of seven Local Government Areas, what then should we do?
“We are appealing to the coordinator of the Amnesty program Prof. Charles Dokubo not to succumb to the antics of his predecessors who undermined peaceful ethnic nationalities and dealt only with warring communities, the consequences can be as unpleasant as possible.
“Don’t provoke Benin youths unto militancy, you engender peace by rewarding peaceful dispositions. Our youths have been patient enough, it was high time our people were enlisted”
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