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Anti-open grazing: Why rights of Fulani herdsmen should be protected – Senator Adamu
The former governor of Nasarawa State and Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial district, Abdullahi Adamu said anti-open grazing law anywhere in Nigeria infringes on rights of Fulani herders.
He insisted that rights to movement is a fundamental right, hence, herders can move anywhere or associates and the law of anti-open grazing by governors across the country who owe it a duty to protect herders and any other individual would not stand the test of time.
Adamu who is noted as critics of anti-open grazing law once again bared his mind at a media parley with Nigerian Senate Press Corps on Monday in Abuja while reacting to national issues.
He expressed shock that Southern governors who swore an oath to enforcing the provisions of the Constitution are those breaching it by deliberately infringing on herders’ right of movement with their cattles.
“When I read the meeting of Southern governor’s and the issue of open grazing and how they kicked against it and threatened to make law against it. I replied them in a manner that you recalled.
“I believe as governors, as members of the executive, operating in the different tier of government, they have a Constitutional responsibility, the Constitution upon which they take an oath of office.
The lawmaker who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Rural Development maintained that herders, like any other Nigerian has right to pursue legitimate business anywhere within the territory of Nigeria.
“One of the fundamental right there is every Nigerian, no exception. Every Nigerian has a right of free movement. Every Nigerian has a right to pursue a legitimate business. Right of association is enshrined in the Constitution. You cannot under ant pretence take away those rights.
“I don’t know under any condition which government can say, yes, we can take away this right. When they came up with this, I was wondering. First and foremost a week earlier before the meeting governors met here in Abuja and there was no such announcement like that. I was taken aback when I read about their meeting in Asaba.
“I still stand by that. The fact that one or two governors in the North have said something like that does not take away the right of herdsmen.
He said government owe it a duty to protect herdsmen, lamenting that nothing much has come from government to protect herders and their occupation of cattle rearing.
“The question here is nature has closed vacuum. You can’t build something on nothing. The duty to protect herdsmen and farmers rest squarely on the national government, State Government and the Local government administration.
“The question here is, has the government done what it is supposed to do to protect Nigerians who are in that calling, in that profession and in that trade? The answer is no and you cannot blame the person who is desperately looking for a means of livelihood.
“However, this does not excuse somebody who is pursuing his right from doing harm to somebody’s right. I must be very clear on thia. A farmer has right to farm, if you dare carry your cattle and and damage his farm crops, he has right to make claims in the Court of law. That’s the law as I understand it.
Adamu reminded the government that Fulani herders are Nigerians who don’t have access to government infrastructure and incentives, yet they are treated as outcasts, adding that they deserve to be treated the same way, businessmen in Lagos, Portharcourt, Kano and in any part of the country are treated.
“So, it doesn’t matter. If the whole Northern governors make the same pronouncement that the Southern governors did, that doesn’t shake my fundamental position on this. Government owes herdsmen a duty to protect their calling and I dare repeat that if you go to Wuse Market here, you will see how many infrastructure have been provided by the FCT and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) like water, and electricity. These are for Nigerians. These herdsmen are Nigerians.
“This government has a duty like the way it’s treating businessmen in Alaba, Onitsha, Kano, and Portharcourt to treat herdsmen too because they are Nigerians.
“These provision are public funds. They are not from the private fund of any governor or Senator. The funds are from the treasury of this country and every Nigerian has a stake in that treasury.
“So the government has a duty to find a wherewithal to make it possible for herdsmen not to go astray in the course of pursuing his legitimate duty.”
Six Commissioners and a Local Government Council Chairman have been arrested on the order of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Francis Nwifuru over alleged breach of contracts.
The Chairman Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, was suspended from office with immediate effect.
Reports said, the Commissioners were accused of contractual breach in the ongoing construction of 140 housing units for the Izzo and Amaze communities, which were displaced by the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The names of embattled Commissioners are: Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Victor Chukwu (Environment), Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Moses Ekuma (Health), and Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring).
They were first declared wanted following their disappearance from the State Executive Committee meeting when the matter became known in the media, and the Ebonyi State immediately launched manhunt before they were eventually arrested.
Commenting on the development, Ilang Donatus, Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, stated that the action was taken due to the officials’ and contractors’ failure to adhere to contract terms.
Donatus noted that the officials are delaying the housing project, which Governor Nwifuru had planned to commission in celebration of his second anniversary in office.
Donatus emphasised the governor’s frustration over the slow pace of construction, noting that the housing initiative was designed to provide relief to victims of communal crises.
He was quoted as saying, “The governor is not happy over the pace of the work, which ought to have been completed. The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects.
“As you can see, our governor is a man with a passionate heart, he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis. He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered to arrest of all the commissioners who are supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing units.
Adding to the concerns, Mrs. Maria Okohu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization (Ebonyi Central) and a member of the Executive Council Committee, described the situation as an act of sabotage.
She stressed that failure to complete the housing project on schedule undermines the governor’s development agenda for the state.
In response, the state government has vowed to continue its crackdown, warning that further arrests will be made until all implicated commissioners and contractors are held accountable.
Reports also suggest that the Nigerian police have issued invitations to several officials who were not present during the committee’s enforcement visits.
Upon inquiry, Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, stated that he had no knowledge of the arrest or detention of the accused commissioners and the suspended council chairman.
When questioned about whether the Command had invited the officials following the governor’s directive, the police spokesperson responded, “We don’t have any commissioner in our custody. I’m not aware of any invitation and I have asked and I was told we don’t have any commissioner in custody. I will still ask about the invitation but for now, I don’t know anything of such.”
News
Ododo’s aide escapes assassination by whiskers, allege APC youth leader, Mohammed behind attempt
Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo’s Aide, Hon. Godfrey Adekoye, Senior Special Assistant on Youths Empowerment on Tuesday escaped an assassination attempt on his life by whiskers.
The aide of the Governor said the attack on his life happened at Lounge 1, a popular hospitality joint in Lokoja, added that the attackers followed him down to his house, unfortunately they met his absence.
In a statement he made available to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, the aide to the Governor accused the Kogi State APC Youth Leader, Hon. Mohammed U Mohammed and one Abubakar Nasara Ola as behind his attack.
He said during the attack on him, Abubakar threatened to kill him, pointed a gun at him before the intervention of onlookers who saved him by chance.
The attackers destroyed and broke the windscreen of his vehicle, that is now parked in the custody of the Quick Response Squad.
Speaking on the attack, Hon. Godfrey said he has since reported the matter to the Quick Response Squad, an arm of the Nigerian Police, in Lokoja, said his life is in danger.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ayah, said he was making efforts to confirm the attack on the aide, could not be reached as at time of going to press.
A popular General Overseer of a new generation Church, Elijah has been arrested by the Octopus (C41) Strike Force unit of Rivers State Police Command for investigation over homosexual allegations.
It was gathered that a video of the Pastor was leaked indulging in the homosexual act to the police by a member of his church.
The member who alleged that the General Overseer attempted sleep with him against his will.
The member who revealed his name simply as Patrick now a complainant said, he wanted to play along after the General Overseer made sexual advancement and captured the nude video of pastor attempting to have carnal knowledge of him.
Armed with the intelligence report, the police traced the General Overseer who is from Rivers State to one of his relaxation spots in Port Harcourt and arrested him.
Sources revealed to our correspondent that the General Overseer has reportedly confessed to other numerous acts of homosexuality involving both male adults and minors within and outside Port Harcourt.
Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.
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