Nigeria Senate to Discuss Fulani Shepherds Crisis Today
Senate Leader Yahai Abdullahi said the Red House will discuss the issue of Fulani pastoralists across the country on Tuesday.
Abdullahi, who spoke to reporters in his office, said that his deputy representing Ondo North in the Senate, prof. Ajayi Boroffis will submit a petition in this regard.
Abdullahi said the federal government has a role to play in resolving the crisis, stressing that local political leaders should be encouraged to find durable solutions.
The presidency has opposed a recent directive from the Ondo state government that Fulani herders should vacate the Ondo forest reserves.
President Major General Muhammadu Bukhari (ret.), Through his Senior Special Assistant for Media and Advertising Mallam Garba Shehu, wondered why Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the luminary of the law, could unilaterally issue a waiver order without knowing the constitution that guarantees citizens the right to travel and live in any part of the country.
But Abdullahi said that instead of getting involved in the problem, the presidency should encourage political and traditional rulers to play an important role in resolving it.
He said: “This is a type of crisis that tends to a management trajectory where some politicians and ethnic entrepreneurs step in and destroy the water.
“These are existential issues that have caused communities that have so far coexisted peacefully to clash with each other, both for political reasons and for political issues.
“These are problems that need to be solved locally or through dialogue or mutual concessions.
“These are people who lived together, they should unite and conduct a dialogue.
“The federal government is too far away to resolve any municipal dispute anywhere. Disputes between communities must be resolved by the people in the area.
“They should be decided by political leaders at the level of the National Assembly, at the level of governors, councilors of local authorities, so that they sit with their people, so that many of these issues can be formulated and resolved by the local population.
“This is what governors should do at their level, so as not to always run for president, to resolve disputes here and there. How many weapons does the federal government have? “
“This is a federation and we are all politically responsible leaders. At different levels, they have to sit down and talk to each other about these disputes.
“I can assure you that these intercommunal conflicts would be resolved in the near future. I think that the way to solve it is in the interests of the unity and integrity of this country.
Hopefully, tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday the general proposal will be supported by the Deputy Head of the Senate Ajaya Boroffis; tomorrow he will appear in the Senate with a proposal on this matter. “
Source: – Punch ng
