The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has said that the state would not partake in the Federal Government’s planned establishment of cattle colonies in the state.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture had disclosed that 16 Northern states had indicated interest in hosting the cattle colonies that had been proposed as the panacea to the frequent herdsmen/farmers clashes in the country.
It also disclosed that each of the volunteering states had promised to dedicate 5,000 hectares to the project, although it declined to name the states.
According to a Friday statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang, the governor said Plateau would not participate.
He also described as a fallacy the allegations that he had caved out parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos LGAs for the establishment of cattle colonies.
He appealed to peace-loving residents of the state against acting on unfounded rumours.
The statement read, “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 after 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.
“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.”