Enugu governor tasks nomads on ranching

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has asked herdsmen to embrace ranching as a lasting solution to continued rancour between and farmers nationwide.During a crusade organised by Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement (WCCRM) in Enugu, he said the herders should key into the ranching arrangement to mitigate attacks and avoid the needless loss of lives.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Religious Affairs, Rev’d Chinedu Nwoye, the governor said it hurts to address all herdsmen as Fulani.His words: “It hurts some of us when people talk about herdsmen and use the word Fulani. This is because it is not all Fulani that are herdsmen. We have some of them who are Christians and pastors. Many people have forgotten that former President Umaru Yar’Adua, an indigene of Katsina State, was a Fulani man. He was a good man and did two remarkable things while in office.

“The first was the rule of law. The second was that he went to the Niger Delta region and told the militants to stop fighting and also granted them amnesty because Nigeria is 90 per cent dependent on oil.”

He urged spiritual leaders to pray for public office holders, adding that the crusade was not a coincidence since the vision was given to the movement’s General Superintendent, Pastor Aloysious Ohanebo, 20 years ago.

The governor observed that the programme was first in the life of his administration.“It is therefore a challenge to the church and spiritual leaders this time to begin to pray for the people in authority. Many overseers, because of the fear of being misunderstood, do not want to associate or pray for people in authority.

When we have God at the helm of affairs in Enugu, every other thing will be working well.”Ugwuanyi expressed satisfaction that the movement was preaching righteousness, old time messages and the totality of the gospel.