TheCable

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the federal government has given four states, including the federal capital territory (FCT) N24 billion for cattle ranching.

The other states are Katsina, Yobe and Ebonyi.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday night, Shehu said some of the states given these funds for ranching got theirs before Katsina, Buhari’s state.

The presidential spokesman’s comments were in response to Samuel Ortom’s, Benue governor, who said President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to review grazing routes is “unconstitutional”.

However, he said more than 12 states are being processed for payments.

“Yes, Katsina has been given money, but Katsina has not been the only one given. So far, about 24 billion has been issued to four states on ranching and associated activities,” Shehu said.

“Yobe has been given, Ebonyi, and FCT has been given. More than 12 states are now being processed for these payments. We have heard all this nonsense being said by lawyers who ordinarily should be respected – accusing the president… the president cannot be nepotistic, he cannot descend so slow to do what others before him have done.

“He is a fair and just leader, the fact that Katsina got money, one of two of these states got their own before Katsina but it is because they did not go to town with it, that is why the people are calling out the president and the governor of Benue is saying all these trash against him.

“It’s a process and the state governors are lining up. You present criteria, you get funded. If you want justice for yourself, do justice to other people as well.”