The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has rejected the Federal Government’s proposal to establish grazing colonies for Fulani herdsmen across the country. They say the recent killings of people by the herdsmen in Benue and Taraba states have exposed the dangerous path, which Nigeria would be walking through such a gamble.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, has called on the Federal Government to immediately declare the violating Fulani herdsmen terrorists , and warning that allowing them to continue to kill, mutilate and destroy people’s farmland would push communities to engage in self-defence.
The Ohanaeze also said the proposed grazing colonies were not only against the Bible, which was a supreme law (Exodus 22.5), but another form of internal colonisation of the eastern region by the Fulani north.
These were contained in a statement, entitled, “Ndigbo rejects grazing colonies in its entirety” and it was signed by the Enugu State President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Chief Alex Ogbonna.
The statement reads:
“The recent killings by Fulani herdsmen in various parts of Benue State and Middle Belt region have once again exposed the dangerous path which Nigeria is currently walking.
“Curiously, despite the gravity of the situation, the Federal Government appears to be at a loss on how to tackle the menace, and has, consequently, hit on the expediency of establishing grazing colonies across the country as a means of ending the constant menace of the herdsmen.
“While Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State is disposed and committed to a peaceful Nigerian society, devoid of senseless blood-letting and unconscionable massacre of innocent civilians by any group, we wish to state categorically and in the strongest terms that we reject in its totality the proposed establishment of grazing colonies in any part of Enugu State.
“Therefore, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State Chapter urges the state government, state Assembly and other institutions of the state to resist in the strongest terms, the concession of any part of Enugu State for the purpose of creating grazing colonies for the Fulani herdsmen.
“We wish also to state that any attempt by central government to carry out this policy will amount to usurpation of our people’s right to existence and would thus be vehemently resisted.
“We hereby state without fear of contradiction that establishment of grazing colonies is not the answer to restructuring Nigeria, an option which Ohanaeze is committed and disposed to.”
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, has banned the roaming Fulani herdsmen from the 95 local government areas of the five states of the South-East and warned the herdsmen to take OYC’s position very serious or risk being in trouble.
OYC, however, appealed to Igbo youths not to take laws into their hands and allow the herdsmen to gradually leave the South-East with their cattle.
In a statement signed by OYC’s President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro; Secretary-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, and National Publicity Secretary, Obinna Adibe, the group condemned the attacks and killings in Benue State, saying the activities of the herdsmen are seriously threatening the peace of the nation.
It reads:
“The activities of herdsmen, and the Benue massacre is unfortunate and can cause another avoidable tension in the country, especially now that the election of 2019 is around the corner. We condemned vehemently the terrorist attacks of the herdsmen and call for self defense as a measure to halt it.
“Worried by their murderous activities, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide has banned and proscribed the Fulani herdsmen in Igboland as they have proven to be outlaws. We ban them and their activities in the 95 local government areas of the South-East. We want the Federal Government to declare them a terrorist.
For fear of being attacked, leaders of the community have directed their people not to go to their farms for now.
Source: https://wendynonso./2018/01/18/ohanaeze-ndigbo-rejects-grazing-colonies-of-fulani-herdsmen/ |
