A Fulani group, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association,
GAFDAN, has warned against the resolution of Southern governors to ban open
grazing.
GAFDAN said a ban on open grazing would lead to a breakdown
of peace between Northerners and Southerners.
The group insisted that the decision of the governors would
groom hatred between Southerners and Northerners.
Southern governors under the umbrella of the Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, had agreed to ban open grazing in their region.
During their meeting in Lagos State, the governors agreed
that the ban would take effect from September 1.
However, GAFDAN’s National Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi,
described the resolution as unfortunate and capable of affecting Nigeria’s
unity.
Abdullahi said the resolution was impossible because they
have not made an alternative plan for herders.
According to Abdullahi: “If you stop open grazing in the
South, you are simply saying that those people should move to the North or they
should move to other parts of the country. What happens if those in the North
also ask the Southerners to leave?
“Are we promoting unity or hatred? What the governors are
saying is practically impossible and it does not promote the unity of this
country.
“You don’t stop people’s means of living and expect peace to
reign. So, the implication is that the unity of Nigeria is going to be in
question.
“You don’t expect those that will be affected to return to
the North and live in peace with people from the South living in the North”.
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Well I believe by God's grace we will sort this matter out when all stakeholders sit together and settle this matter realistically.
ReplyDeleteIn the first place both cattle rearing and farming are ways of life and source of income for both people. We as Nigerians until recently existed peacefully with each other with these oldest vocations without rancor. The Nigerian Local Fulanis and Farmers have no issues with each other. No local Fulanis will rear the cattles to eat the farm products of their community farmers.
Suddenly when the Bororos started coming to Nigeria as armed herders and started killing, rapping and maiming defenseless farmers, no one ever stopped the Fulanis from open grazing. The conflicts became so terrible because it got to a time thatlocal Fulanis too started haboring the foreign Fulanis with Government not firm in dealing with them at it should be. Gradually insecurity in form of kidnapping for random, Banditry by the Fulani criminals became the order of the day. The Bororos became emboldened the more. To curb all these bloodshed various state government started the prohibition of open grazing and introduced ranching which is the alternative they were offered.
If olden days open grazing is to continue and all to live in peace, there must be guaranteed security. We need to reapraise the Ecowas free movement protocols. Additionally each local Fulani should not harbor criminals among them. No tribe in Nigeria that don't have criminals among them but the Government should deal with them and not show any tribal consideration in so doing.
We are all brothers and we love to live peacefully with one another.