The governor had stated that carrying out the census would be unfair and would rob “millions” of displaced Nigerians of their possessions.

Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, praised President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday for “listening to the voice of reason” and authorizing the delay of the 2023 National Population Census.

The governor requested that the exercise be delayed until adequate security was ensured for the nation in a plea to the Federal Government on April 13, according to a statement by his Special Adviser for Media and Publicity, Terver Akase.

The governor had stated that carrying out the census would be unfair and would rob “millions” of displaced Nigerians of their possessions.

The governor was cited as saying, “I want to say that the Federal Government should suspend the issue of census because it appears that the proposed census is coming with an agenda.”

“In order to offer everyone the chance to be counted in their places of birth, we must wait until they can restore stability and all of our internally displaced people return to their ancestral lands. Since the National Population Commission has informed me, those who will be counted must be counted in their communities.

Ortom urged the Federal Government to make sure that Nigerians whose towns have been overrun by bandits and armed herders regain their lands and return home now that the President has approved the postponement of the census.

The statement said, “He maintains that in order for the country to achieve its aim for greater growth and development, the lives and well-being of the people must be placed above other issues.

The statement claims that Ortom is still dedicated to the rule of law, justice, fairness, and equity.