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Nasarawa Senator wants FG to fund activities of herdsmen, says they’re also Nigerians
Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial district, Abdullahi Adamu has lampooned those seeing Fulani herders’ problem as Buhari’s problems, saying activities of herders should be funded from the Federal government’s treasury.
The lawmaker who governed Nasarawa State for eight years on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before becoming a Senator for the third time on the All Progressives the (APC) maintained that if government could bail failing banks which are private enterprises of individual persons with public funds, the same thing should be applicable to cow rearing by Fulani herders.
He spoke at a media parley with Senate Press Corps in Abuja, saying the herders’ crises with farmers shouldn’t be the basis for maltreating and punishing herders because they rear cows.
He admitted that herders/farmers crisis was a national problem that needed to be addressed even if their occupation of moving cattle from one place to the other has been caught up with modernity.
According to Adamu public funds have been used by government to rescue private businesses, hence, herders should also be rescued by government.
“If private banks will be rescued; government will come with public funds to rescue failing banks because Central Bank money is public money; it’s your money; it’s my money, then why not doing that for herdsmen.”
He lamented that governors have abdicated from their responsibility of ensuring harmonious relationship between farmers and Fulani herders in their States.
Adamu insisted that governors have what it takes to ensure security since funds were allocated to all tiers of government for the purpose of peace and security, stating that the idea of resting herders/farmers crisis on the shoulder of the Federal government alone was erroneous.
He.said: “Often we see herdsmen’s problem as Buhari’s problem. It’s not entirely government’s problem. Every tier of government has a duty because the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) allocates funds to be used for all these challenges.
“The State and Local governments have their own responsibilities particularly in agriculture which is on the concurrent list in the Constitution. So you don’t rest that on the shoulder of the Federal government and I say that to the extent with which the Federal government will show the way.
“We are talking of modernisation. Yes you have to distinguish between corporate modernisation effort , government modernisation effort and individual modernisation effort.
“No matter how modern a herdsman thinks he is, he cannot build a kind of road to pass his cattles without doing harm to farmers. No matter how we want to develop, we must develop a long the line of due process.
“The question one tend to ask is we talk about modernisation and for heaven’s sake, is it the fault of herdsmen that till today in the 21st century he moves his cattles through the only route he has in the bush? While in the modern world which I have seen, there are tracks where the cattles are carried and are fed. Do we have tracks in this country and even if we have, how many?
Adamu who was apparently reacting to anti-open grazing laws being legislated across the States noted that herders shouldn’t be punished because of the nature of their occupation that requires moving cattles through bush paths.
“So you cannot punish any trade calling or any economic pursuit. You cannot rest the evil on the the poor Nigerians, it has to rest on government. Government has a duty and I repeat here that we have misdirected our political thinking and our political activism.
“We are involved in unnecessary parochialism. We have refused to differentiate genuine problems this country faces and solve the problems collectively with the direction of government and rather than doing that, we are looking for fault lines.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has extended his heartfelt felicitation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday.
Governor Ododo in statement signed by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah described President Tinubu as a statesman whose leadership and dedication to national development continue to inspire hope and progress across Nigeria.
He commended the President’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is driving economic reforms, strengthening national unity, and advancing the nation’s democratic values.
“On behalf of the government and people of Kogi State, I celebrate Mr President and our father on this special day. Your resilience, visionary leadership, and patriotism have laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s growth. We deeply appreciate your tireless efforts in repositioning our country for sustainable development,” Governor Ododo stated.
He further reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s administration and prayed for continued wisdom, strength, and good health for the President as he leads Nigeria toward greater prosperity, sustainable development, peace and stability.
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