ARG made the allegation while faulting NGF’s proposal to open a register for immigrant Fulani herdsmen in the country.
This is coming at a time when Fulani herdsmen have been fingered in several killings across the country.
In a statement sent to newsmen by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, ARG wondered why a register will be opened to accommodate a race that is a threat to food and the security of the nation.
“The Afenifere Renewal Group condemns strongly the proposal by the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) to open a register for immigrant Fulani herdsmen, whom the NGF itself identified as aliens and threats to Nigeria’s internal security.
“This is underscored by our observations that the NGF had in times past stridently denied culpability of these killers, rising to their defence many a times.
“Our people, who are largely smallholding farmers, cannot work at their full capacity, living at the mercy of cows and conniving policemen. This has aggravated the sweeping poverty in Nigeria and has displaced many of our people. Nigeria’s socioeconomic indices is clear that farmers, not herdsmen, should get higher priority from government, being a higher employer of labour, higher contributor to tax, FOREX earning and GDP.”
ARG expressed concern that, “state governors who swore to protect Nigeria’s constitution are the ones promoting alien interest. Or what logic is there in opening a register for agents of external aggression?”
The statement reads further, “It is shameful that the NGF could not even pretend or hide its readiness to sacrifice the rest of Nigeria for Fulani interest in its veiled reference to “national integration and cohesion” as the solution to herdsmen menace.
“For example, Kaduna Governor, Nasir Elrufai, arrogantly and cold-heartedly declared on Aljazeera recently that killer herdsmen must be accommodated because Nigeria is signatory to ECOWAS’s treaty on trans-humane pastoralist protocol. We wonder if ECOWAS treaties are only obligatory where it concerns Fulani interest as there are other treaties that Nigeria has ignored.
“Another example is the recent ban on car importation through land borders which Comptroller General Hameed Ali said was done to stop influx of illegal arms. If this policy could be implemented swiftly, at great economic loss to stakeholders and despite a senate order against it, why has nothing been done to disarm herdsmen who freely roam about with sophisticated weapons?
“It is becoming increasingly clear that Nigerian authorities will not address the menaces of Fulani herdsmen as should be done in a sane country and NGF’s latest proposal therefore remains to be seen as a workable idea. This further shows that ethnocentric interest, rather than the Rule of Law, governs Nigeria.”
The group reiterate that the only workable solutions are to “outlaw open grazing, arrest and prosecute arms-bearing herdsmen, and promote ranching systems.
“Farmers are paying for land use, why should herdsmen not? Conversely, if herdsmen are justified to bear arms, why should farmers not do same?
“We therefore hold the view that should herdsmen continue to get higher priority, our farmers would be right to resort to self-defence because where injustice becomes a law, resistance becomes a duty.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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You people should not open ur eyes and alliw these cows to be destabilising the country. Using their nonentity religious idea to devide the south. These people planning to takeover the country using this bill granting the killers space within communities and later increase in terrorising the whole country.
ReplyDeleteYorubas need unite strongly against the cancer North, their mentality has held Nigeria back from meaningful growth for decades, still Yorubas still supporting the North when it comes to election or other things, instead they are using every opportunity to go against Yorubas, and other tribes.
ReplyDeleteFayose style is the alternative. El-Rufai and his likes should be freezed quickly. He has lived too long beyond his family limit according to him. Poison all the grass in your areas. Arm all your youths and train them on combat. They are repeating what Dan-fodio did several years ago in this modern era. If our fore-fathers allow it then, we won't allow it this time. Enough is enough. Arm yourself oooooo. Government is fighting Jihad against Nigerians. If the fire start burning and UN come near, cut them too because they pretend not to hear the cries of Nigerians who are being slaughtered everyday. Obama was bribed by the Northern governors with 500 million dollars to close his eyes against their attrocities in the name of supporting Hillary who was meant to continue from where Obama stopped, but God disgraced them. Fight for your life oooooo. Nobody has monopoly of violence.
ReplyDeleteThe Governors and other Rich men from there actually owns the cattle. The nomads are just paid labourers. The governors are actually fighting for their economic and nepotistic interests
ReplyDelete