A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice who is seeking to govern Benue State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, has outlined ways he would tackle the farmers-herders crisis in the state if given the mandate in 2023.
Aondoakaa, a lawyer, gave the hint when he fielded questions from journalists in Makurdi at the APC secretariat at the weekend after declaring his intention to the party to contest the 2023 gubernatorial race in Benue state.
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“I am telling people what I will do that is right. Number one, I say in six months’ time, the IDPs camps will be closed down and people will be enabled with foodstuffs, seeds and a token of N100,000 per family to go back and start their lives. And I will use the money used for feeding in the IDPs camps to enhance security within the environment.
“I will also ensure that the Livestock Guards work harmoniously with other security agents in the state to ensure that if there is an infraction by any group of people, whether herdsmen, into farmer’s farmyard, the dispute will be settled right there.
“If you have destroyed the farmer’s property, you pay right there. It’s not the question of bringing the Livestock Guards to arrest the person to Makurdi and the farmer is left there and there will be reprisals. It will be a win-win situation, the farmer wins and everybody wins,” he said.
“I’m here to declare my intention to contest for the governorship of Benue State on the ticket of APC, I gave them (party) my mission statement.”
Aondoakaa also debunked the issue about his purported ban from holding public office, saying that the whole thing was politics playing out, even as he stressed that he is contesting political office and not public office and described the whole rumours as targeted at tarnishing his image as thrash.
“They have been saying that but they have never quoted the part that said I have been barred,” he stated.
