The Plateau State Government will not be a party to the proposed cattle colonies, Governor Simon Lalong declared yesterday.
The governor described as “false, malicious and highly mischievous” reports in the social media that he had carved out parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas for the creation of cattle colonies.
The governor’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang, who broke the news of the government’s decision, advised all peace-loving citizens of Plateau State to “discountenance such mischievous information” and embrace issues that unite rather than divide them.
Manjang, in a statement in Jos, said: “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 face their vicious side, which may cost him his aspirations.
“The governor herein states unequivocally that this thinking is not only a figment of the imagination of its authors who want to make political capital out of it, it is false, malicious and highly mischievous.
“Governor Simon Bako Lalong does not contemplate such action, and he further calls on all good citizens of Plateau to bury such imagination of these elements (who are) bent on throwing the state into confusion. Cattle colonies are not in the imagination of Governor Lalong.