29th March, 2016
Senator Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) on Monday urged leaders of Fulani herdsmen to flush out bad elements amongst them to regain their respect in the society.
Sani, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debt, gave the task during a visit to a Fulani settlement in Rafin Roro in Kasuwa Magani, Kajuru local government area of the state.
The senator urged leaders of the herdsmen to identify and flush “those who are discrediting them and giving them bad name”.
Besides, he enjoined them to stop what he described as “vengeful attacks” and embrace dialogue or report grievances to constituted authorities.
According to him, such acts are tarnishing the image of the ethnic Fulani and sending the wrong message of who the Fulanis are. “The issue of Fulani herdsmen has become a national issue in Nigeria with economic, political, social, security and ecological dimensions which need to be addressed.
“I am very concerned about the activities of very few of them who have been involved in violence in parts of the country.
“Fulani are peaceful and resourceful people who need all the necessary support to be able to cater for themselves and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country,” the legislator said.
The senator said he had proposed a bill to the National Assembly for the establishment of a Nomadic Development Commission.
He said the essence of the bill was to establish an agency of government that would be directly involved in supporting the Fulani herdsmen, their rehabilitation and empowerment.
“The bill is going to be modelled in the way we have modelled the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“The bill will empower the commission to support them, empower them and give them technical support.
“It will also enable them to set up ranches with which they can cater for their livestock without trespassing into farm lands that will lead to break down of law,” Sani said.
The lawmaker donated N1 million as short term measure to be used to provide a ranch for grazing as well as empower the women in the community and promised to build a clinic in the village.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the North West Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman, commended the senator for the initiative.
But Suleiman urged government for more well equipped nomadic schools, saying the existing schools were ill-equipped.
“We thank Sen. Sani and appeal to government for more well equipped schools.
“We assure you that our people are peace loving and will work for the development of Nigeria,” Suleiman said.