Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The leadership of Fulani pastoralist groups Miyetti Allah yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Kaduna, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom not to implement the anti-grazing law in that state.
The group said that, they would do everything legally possible to resist such law that is against their culture, movement and economic interests.
Their position was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the National President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejor; his Secretary, Saleh Alhassan and Chairman Communiqué Drafting Committee, Garus Gololo.
The communiqué reads in part, “that we condemned the call by some desperate and jobless groups under the leadership of one Ariyo Atoye, a jobless youth parading the streets of Abuja looking for crumbs from corrupt politicians agitating for the profiling and stigmatisation of Fulani pastoralist in Nigeria.
“We urged the Attorney General to ignore their letter as they are hired agents by a sinking governor, who is notorious for funding and arming militia groups causing havoc to the Fulani pastoralist in the Benue Valley.
“We totally reject the repressive and oppressive ‘Anti-open Grazing Law’ as it is fundamentally going against our culture, economic interest and constitutional rights and will deploy all the necessary legal means as enshrined in our constitution to challenge it.
“Consequently, we affirmed our support and solidarity for the legal action taken by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio- cultural Association to challenge the negative Benue anti- grazing law at the Federal High Court Abuja.
“That pastoralists, like all citizens of Nigeria, have the right to move freely and to reside in any part of the country. They also have a right to own property in any part of the country and enjoy the right of freedom from discrimination like any other citizen of the country.
“We call on the National Assembly to live up to their responsibility because the inter-state movement of pastoralists is analogous to inter-state commerce, which is an exclusive preserve of the legislative powers of the National Assembly under item 62 of the Exclusive Legislative List. To this effect, any action taken by a state Assembly is in conflict with above section of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“We are calling on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Inspector General of Police, The Senate President, The Speaker of The House of
Representatives and Our Royal Fathers to call the Benue State Governor to order, as his actions and continuous threat to the leadership of the Fulani Pastoralists is a serious threat to peaceful coexistence.
“That we appreciate the efforts being put by the Federal and States governments in addressing the security challenges facing the Fulani Pastoralist particularly cattle rustling, kidnapping and banditry.
“That we totally condemn the attempt to profile the Fulani race and urge the press should investigate the veracity of their stories before going to press.
“Finally, we are appealing to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to call the H.E Governor Samuel Ortom to order as his actions are a fundamental threat to peaceful coexistence and food security in Nigeria.”
The representatives of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio- cultural Association; Tabital Pulaaku Nigeria Chapter; Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); Mobgal Fulbe Development Association, Gam Allah Fulani Development Association; Fulani Title Holders Association, Pastoral Resolve (PARE), and Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association attended the meeting.