Umahi promises South-East governors won’t exclude farmers, herders

Ekiti govt warns residents against victimising them

Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, yesterday said that governors in the region would not engage in any policy that could limit or exclude any farmer or herder in as much as the affected person is ready to abide by rules guiding such operation.

Umahi stated this in Enugu at a security summit organised by the South-East Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA) in collaboration with the Forum.The governor, represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, noted that there were rules of engagement in every relationship, stressing that problem arises when those rules are breached.

He said: “We will continue to accommodate the Miyetti Allah but our plea to them is that as we are magnanimous to allow settlers, every community has a custom that needs not to be violated. It is the violation that breeds problem.”

National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Mohammadu Kirowa, said the group wants an establishment of Fulani Youth Vigilante to work with the security, saying: “We solicit your support and co-operation in adopting dialogue where problems exist as a means of brokering peace and to report cases against our members.”

In a related vein, the Ekiti State government has cautioned its citizens against victimising any Fulani herder performing legitimate businesses in the state.

It urged the populace to be cautious and be circumspect of their actions to be able to distinguish herders that are pursuing their means of livelihood in a decent manner and those that are perpetrating evils.

The state’s Information Commissioner, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti yesterday after the state executive council meeting, said part of the security strategies of government had been that all the residents must be vigilant and report strange faces to security operatives for prompt action.

“The government has no problem with Fulani herders doing legitimate businesses. Our people must know that we have the Ekiti anti-grazing law in place and it shall be applied when necessary,” he said.