Fulani herdsmen, under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore socio-cultural organisation, has told State governors that only the proper settlement of herders will guarantee peace in their states.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the National President of the organisation, Abdullahi Bodejo, they accused governors of playing “bad politics” with the issue of Fulani herdsmen.
However, he said the only solution to the herdsmen problem is to provide them grazing areas equipped with modern facilities.
The statement as published by The Sun newspaper read: “Yes. We are just saying the same thing, whether RUGA or cattle colony, the only thing is that Fulani issue in Nigeria is being used to play politics.
“If you are losing election and you want to gain back lost ground, play the Fulani politics. If you want to win election in 2023, you can start using anti-grazing law.
“We have grazing routes and grazing reserves and if Nigeria wants to solve the herdsmen and farmers clashes once and for all, you are a governor and you want to enjoy peace in your state, you don’t need any long meeting, just create a particular area for the Fulani and equip them with modern amenities. Instead of doing this, they are playing bad politics with Fulani.
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nce when the RUGA started, I’m yet to see any, except the efforts being made by the Zamfara State governor. No other governor is doing anything about it; it is still politics.
“Look at the support given to rice farmers through anchor borrowers programme; it is running into several billions of naira, and yet there is nothing for the Fulani business.
“Some people are saying cattle rearing is a private business, but the about 99 percent of the cows we are eating in this country are from Fulani.
“States are making revenues from cows. For example, in Lagos, over 6,000 cows are killed daily and the state government is making so much money from that and that is the way it is in other states of the country.
“These governors are not serious, that is why they are talking about anti-grazing laws; they are not serious in maintaining peace in their state; they are not serious in carrying everybody along.
“They want to politicise Fulani issue. See how they are criminalising the Fulani man; these people they arrested for criminal activities are not Fulani, some of them have learned Fulani languages and people say they are Fulani.
“Even small children have been made to believe that the problem of this country is the Fulani. But Fulani are very peace-loving; they don’t have any problem.”
