The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has accused the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume for being responsible for the renewed influx of Fulani herdsmen and their cattle into Benue.
The party in a press statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom raised an alarm that the renewed influx of Fulani herdsmen and their cattle into some rural communities of Benue State along the border with neighbouring Nasarawa and Taraba states portends grave danger and threat to the lives and properties of peasant farmers in those communities.
“But more worrisome is the fact that this latest influx of the herdsmen and their livestock into Benue is coming closely after recent public utterances of support for them by Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume.
According to the PDP, “Senator Akume in his recent utterances at several public functions is quoted as having urged the herdsmen to feel at home in Benue regardless of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law which places restrictions on their traditional nomadic way of rearing livestock.”
The party said following Akume’s open invitation, the herders have been coming into Benue State with their livestock in droves.
The party described his acts as a brazen and worrisome violation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (2017) which is in force in the state and outlaws the nomadic movement of livestock from one location to another as practiced by the herdsmen.
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“This latest show of support for the herdsmen by the Minister reinforces his earlier stand which absolved the nomads of guilt over the spate of killings of farmers in the state, as he openly alleged rather that it was the farmers who were killing one another.”
The PDP said if Senator Akume meant well for the state, while savouring the pleasures of his new marriage with Fulani interest groups and expressing support for his herdsmen kith and kin, he ought to have cautioned them against violating the extant law in force in the state which prohibits their latest influx and the attendant open grazing of their livestock in the state.
The party called on the Benue populace to be vigilant, pointing out that all hands must be on deck to avert a reccurrence of the wanton killings and destruction which took place in the state in the recent past.
The party also urged Sen. Akume to channel his efforts towards exploiting his new-found relationship with Fulani interest groups to foster peace between the nomads and the people of Benue, rather than encouraging them to break the laws of the state which are geared towards ensuring peaceful co-existence among the people of the state including those herdsmen who are willing to be law abiding.
The PDP also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to note the actions and utterances of his Minister, George Akume, saying if the Minister’s conduct which seeks to create violence and thwart security measures does not enjoy his nod, the President should hasten to make a public declaration to distance the Federal Government from the statements credited to Minister Akume.
“Until that is done, the continued silence of the Buhari Government implies consent and complicity, the Benue PDP said.
