![]() |
Yinka Odumakin |
Prominent socio-cultural groups, Afenifere and Ohanaeze, have condemned
claims by controversial Kano based Prof. Umar Labdo Muhammad, that the
Fulani dynasty owns the Middle Belt area of the country.
Umar, a Professor of Islamic Studies and Political Thoughts at Yusuf
Maitama Sule University, Kano, had in interview with Saturday Sun,
claimed that the Fulani herdsmen have the right to graze in any part of
the country unhindered.
He also said that the Middle Belt region belongs to the Fulani as it was earlier conquered by the Sokoto caliphate.
Reacting to his claims, the spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin,
said it was unreasonable for such a knowledgeable person to take that
position.
He said: “In this age and time, 2018, it is very unfortunate for
somebody to be talking of cattle routes, grazing routes that should
still be enforced. The same professor has sent his children to Ivy
universities in America and Europe, and he is encouraging the children
of other people to be dragging cows from Maiduguri to Akure and other
places. Why can’t he bring his own children to join the herdsmen.
“Modernity demands that these people build ranches and put in place
facilities and be confined there, instead of moving cattle from one
location to the other, and causing troubles. If he holds such views in
this age and he calls himself a professor, it is unfortunate.”
According to the Afenifere spokesman, Umar’s position showed an
imperialist agenda and a quest for domination and conquest, which should
be resisted.
In the same vein, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Uche
Achi-Okpaga, noted that the position of the apex Igbo socio-cultural
organisation on cattle grazing has been unwavering, as it has declared
that, there is no part of Igbo land that should be ceded in the guise of
establishing a cattle ranch.
“Where on earth does it happen that you coerce people’s heritage and give to an advertised adversaries?” Achi-Okpaga asked.
According to him, “Ndigbo is passing through herculean crucibles
under this regime and if this is another ploy to push us to the wall by
unleashing the herdsmen on us, then we shall have no other option than
to declare, to your tents oh Igbo”.
He said: “The South East Governors had obeyed our resolution by
reaffirming it in their last meeting. Revisiting the concluded matter is
tantamount to declaring war and civil unrest in the relatively peaceful
Igbo land.
“It is needless going round the issue. Hitting the nail on the head
is most apt in the prevailing circumstances. President Buhari is the one
encouraging all these comments and killings in Nigeria.
“We are not running a parliamentary government. Here in Nigeria, it
is presidential system where the president takes all the glory and, as
well, the blames. A state government makes an anti-grazing law and a
serving minister makes a public statement countering the existing law,
which is accepted by the people it is meant to govern. It is not
challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction and that minister is
still enjoying the comfort of his office.
“Nigerians are killed in tens and hundreds in a staccato and
unbridled brigandage and Prof Umar and the likes are making all these
insinuating and untowardly statements.
“Why would people be making this kind of unlawful and thought
provoking statements in this digital age to the effect that herdsmen
should graze their cattle even in churches and mosques and kill all in
resistance and he is not questioned? One can only construe that the
government is heaping sand round their waists and the sky is now their
limit in making inflammatory comments.
“Fulani herdsmen are killing people in the villages with jihadist
embellishments and we are told to pray, while on each occasion the
president assures that the perpetrators will be brought to book. No book
has been seen neither has anyone’s name seen on it.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comment expressed do not reflect the opinion of African Parliamentary News