FULANI GROUP VOWS, SAYS: BENUE MUST DUMP ‘ANTI-OPEN GRAZING BILL’
FULANI GROUP VOWS, SAYS: BENUE MUST DUMP
‘ANTI-OPEN GRAZING BILL’
Latest
news report as A Fulani socio-cultural organisation, the Gan Allah Fulani
Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) has said that the conflicts between
farmers and herders in Benue State and other states is the Fulani way of
fighting back over prolonged neglect and injustice.
It said
the country had relegated the Fulani herdsmen to the background and were never
allowed to exercise any right in the country like other citizens.
He
called for the abrogation of the Anti-Open grazing Bill.
National
Secretary General of GAFDAN Alhaji Saleh Bayeri told newsmen in Jos, the
Plateau State capital, yesterday: “There has been so much hatred against the
Fulani by other Nigerians over the years and successive governments never cared
to see to the challenges facing the Fulanis in this country, we have been
pushed to the wall and the only option we have is to fight back, especially as
states are beginning to enact laws to further strangulate the only means of
livelihood of the Fulani herdsmen in the country”
Bayeri
added: “The reason for the problem is obvious. The Fulani in this country are
facing the toughest challenge of their lives, a kind of challenge that makes
you to choose between life and death; they are facing serious economic
depression.
“Historically,
the herdsmen and their business have been neglected o by the people and
government of Nigeria. It is therefore natural that for people that feel
oppressed to want to fight back or resist oppression. As far back as I can
remember, from 1970 till date, there has been no single government policy
geared towards assisting herdsmen in any way.
“Naturally,
the government should know that the Fulani that keep multiplying in human
population and their animal, should know that they need a space to occupy and
carry out their legitimate business. The Fulani are not being allowed any space
in Nigeria and government does not seem to care, so they have to fight back.
He
added: “There was the issue of grazing reserve, about 413 grazing reserves in
gazette. Out of that number, you can’t count up to 20 that are functional. But
farmers enjoy and keep enjoying all sorts of assistance from the federal
government through the same ministry for agriculture. Government does not
really care when it comes to the issue of herders.”
On the
Benue killings, he said: “We expected the federal government to move in and
stop the enforcement on this anti-open grazing law in Benue State, but since
government does not care on any issue affecting the Fulani man, the governor
was allowed to enforce the law and we can now see the consequences
“From
the last check, it was reported that over 70 people have been killed in Benue
State in attempt to enforce an unjust law of anti-open grazing. People should
ask the governor, is the enforcement of any law worth the lives of over 70 of
his people. Has that law succeeded?”
His
suggested solution is that “the Benue State governor should withdrew the anti-open
grazing law he enacted last year, let him look at Benue State as home for all
irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation. The governor should be
reminded that he swore to protect and defend the lives of all citizens of Benue
State not minding their tribe, religion or political background.”