The
Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has laid to rest the
fears that the Federal Government is planing to establish of Grazing
Reserves for the Fulani Herdsmen, across the country.
The
former Speaker of the House of Representatives who spoke in Abia State during a
one day working visit to the South-Eastern State, said that the Federal
Government under President Mohammadu Buhari will establish grazing reserves and
ranches only in the northern States of the country.
He
stressed that no grazing reserve will be established in the southeast or
anywhere in the entire south.
His
words: "I am a Fulani man from Sokoto, and I have cattles. I know that it
is better for me to rear and keep my herds in one place and provide good grass
for them.
"Talking
about Southeast and northern Nigeria relationship this issue of herdsmen that
has been coming up recently I believe Federal Government is coming up with a
measured response of ensuring that we have grazing reserves, particularly, with
emphasis, in northern Nigeria, in states where they originate from, so that
they can remain within their neighborhood, within their families and carter for
their castles in a much more better way, much more organized way and much more
economically viable system.
"By
having a grazing reserve in Sokoto State for instance, all herdsmen and herds
farmers in Sokoto can graze within Sokoto State environment without moving
their herds out.
"We
in the northern states in particularly have embraced this very proactive
measure of establishing grazing reserves in the north so that the herdsmen and
their herds can remain at home in their environment. That will give us better
meat, better milk and for the people of Sokoto and Aba leather for making shoes
and other leather works." Tambuwal said.
It
will be recalled that the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu recently said
that any plan to establish a grazing reserves for the Fulani herdsmen will be
frustrated in the southeast because there are no land space in the zone for
such.
His
words: "We don't need grazing reserves in the South-East, because we don't
have land space for it. There are enough land in the north, so let the
establishment of grazing reserves be in the north."
Meanwhile,
Governor Tambuwal who was in Abia to commission some projects executed by
Governor Ikpeazu praised his Colleague for what he described as giant strides
in the face of paucity of funds.
His
words: "My dear brother, I can't thank you enough for the recognition and
honor of inviting me to come here to Abia State to commission projects executed
by your administration.
"I
must commend you for the giant strides in the midst of paucity and none availability
of founds, you've been able to execute the projects that you found me worthy to
come and commission."
Governor
Tambuwal, who said that he has had a long standing relationship with the good
people of Abia State, commended Governor Ikpeazu for his leadership which he
said has been able to sustain peaceful Abia State, while praying that peace
shall never depart Abia State, even as it shall permeate the entity of the rest
part of Nigeria.
His
words: "Without peace we cannot have development and we cannot have
progress. Let me therefore use the advantage of this platform to call on all
Nigerians to continue to embrace peace and peaceful ways of conveying
grievances that they have.
"Taking
up arms against your state, or against your fellow brothers will not help
matters it will rather worsen situations. I call on every Nigerian who is
involved in any form of violence to please embrace peace and approach
government at various levels on whatever grievance that anybody is
having.
"I
believe that all of us, from Mr. President down to council chairman as elected
by the people, and we are here to listen to our people. Be rest assured that we
up north are very much interested in what is happening around here and all over
the country." He said.
Speaking
on the killing of a Christian woman from Imo State in Kano State, Governor
Tambuwal said: "We are saddened by the development in Kano State, where
one of our leaders and mother Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme was
murdered.
"I
convey condolences of people of Sokoto State to her family, and all Nigerians.
I condemn the way and manner her life was taken unjustly. I said unjustly
because she was never sentenced by any court of law. It was an act of a gang
mob hiding under the guise of religion.
"As
a Moslem from Sokoto State, I assure you that such act was unislamic. The
religion of Islam is a religion of peace. Islam itself as a word means
peace.
"We
are also saddened by the attack meted against one young boy (Francis Emmanuel)
by his stepmother in Kano State. We are not happy with these development."
While
in Abia, Governor Tambuwal commissioned five roads executed by Governor Ikpeazu
in Aba.
The
road include: Ehere Road, Umule Road, Umuehilegbu (Tonimas) Road, Umuocham Road
and Umuojima Road.
However,
Umuojima Road has been renamed after a three time Deputy Governor of the State,
Late Dr. Chima Nwafor.
The
Late Dr Nwafor, a renowned surgeon, was first Deputy Governor to the First
Civilian Governor of the State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu from 1992 to 1993.
He
was later appointed Deputy Governor under former Governor, Orji Uzo Kalu, in
2002 to complete Orji Kalu and Enyinnaya Abaribe tenure, when Abaribe
resigned.
In
2003, Dr. Nwafor was elected as Deputy Governor to Kalu during the second
tenure of Orji Kalu, but died he in office before the end of the tenure.
Late
Dr. Nwafor is a native of Umuojima village in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government
Area of Abia state.
Governor
Ikpeazu, who later flagged off the MCC-Samek road for construction, also
commissioned five garbage compactors procured for the Abia State Environmental
Protection Agency (ASEPA). And also commissioned the relaunched Abia State Taxi
Scheme
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