Saraki hints at legislative solution to farmers/ herdsmen clashes
From the National Assembly comes a promise of legislative antidote to the deadly and perennial attacks by herdsmen on farming communities in the country.
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, broke the cheering news in Gboko Benue State, while delivering his remarks at the coronation ceremony of the new Tor Tiv, His Majesty, the Begha U Tiv, Orchivirigh Professor Ortese Iorzua James Ayatse.
Saraki noted that the Senate was paying serious attention to Bills, which were aimed at reversing the negative trends in the agricultural sector stressing that the much needed economic diversification to put the national economy back on track would remain a mirage if violent clashes continued.
Earlier, Governor Samuel Ortom, called for assistance from the Federal Government to curb the menace, disclosing that a bill for the establishment of ranches by cattle owners to reduce conflicts with farmers was in the works at the Benue State House of Assembly.
Ortom explained that when passed into law, the ranches would forestall the incessant clashes between farmers and herders in the state.
In his speech, the new Tor Tiv, said his regime would pay more attention to addressing issues of moral decadence, falling standard of education, and security challenges.
It would be recalled that in November 2016, the Senate rejected a Bill seeking the establishment of National Ranches Commission for Regulation, Preservation and Control of Ranches.
The Senate also jettisoned another Bill that sought to establish Grazing Management Agency, which will ensure the creation of grazing areas across the country. While the Grazing Reserve Bill, was sponsored by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central), his Benue Northeast counterpart sponsored the Ranches Commission Bill.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
1 Comments
I think some of our senators have become like mad cows! Our hard earned money is being utilised in nourishing the insane who should rather be held in psychiatric hospitals but have been drafted by hook or crook into the upper house of the Nigerian legislature!!!
Only the brainless could have voted against a bill that sought to keep herdsmen and their herds away from invading people’s farmland, eating up their economic crops and thrashing their way over what is left and finally killing off the farmer who would dare to protest.
Indeed some of Nigeria’s rulers are permanently wired on the opium that is religion and ethnic intolerance. Let those go their way who refuse to dwell in the same wild as these mad people who are forever stunting the growth of Nigeria…
We will review and take appropriate action.