the silence of President Mohammadu Buhari on the alleged killing of
harmless Nigerians by Fulani Herdsmen, saying; “wanton murder of over
300 Agatu people of Benue State and the silence of the Federal
Government on this genocide is a clear invitation to chaos.”
The governor, who described activities of the Fulani Herdsmen as
inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country said; “Farmlands
costing billions of naira have been destroyed in States in the
South-West, South-East and North-Central zones of the country. One
wonders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the
farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of
their farmlands by the Fulani Herdsmen and the Federal Government is
not doing anything about it.”
In a release issued on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Public
Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose, who
expressed his sympathy to the victims and their families, added that
the Federal Government must stop playing ostrich to the menace of the
Fulani Herdsmen.
“If in the last one week, over 300 Nigerians were allegedly killed,
several villages razed, with farmlands destroyed by Fulani Herdsmen
and President Buhari is comfortable junketing from one country to the
other, something is definitely wrong somewhere.
“This is because in saner climes, no country will have over 300 of its
citizens reportedly killed with thousands others displaced and the
leader of such country will not rush home from wherever he is to take
charge of the situation by himself,” the governor said.
He said President Buhari must be reminded how he led a delegation of
Arewa leaders to Ibadan on October 13, 2000, to confront the then
Governor of Oyo State, Late Alhaji Lam Adesina over alleged killing of
Fulani Herdsmen in Saki, Oke Ogun Area of the state.
The Governor asked; “If 16 years ago, President Buhari could be so
concerned about the killing of Fulani Herdsmen in Oyo State such that
he, as a private citizen led Arewa leaders to Ibadan to show their
anger, why is the President silent now that Fulani Herdsmen are the
ones allegedly killing people, raping women and destroying farmlands
in Benue State in particular and other States in the country?
“Is the President unmindful of the possibility of Nigerians seeing his
silence as conspiracy?
“Most importantly, what has Boko Haram caused Nigeria that the Fulani
Herdsmen are not also causing now?”
While challenging the umbrella body of cattle breeders, the Miyetti
Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in particular
and Northern leaders in general to wade into the persistent
involvement of herdsmen in attack on communities, killing and raping
of Nigerians, Governor Fayose said; “Nigeria is still battling Boko
Haram and the country cannot afford another regime of anarchy, which
this persistence killing of Nigerians by the Fulani Herdsmen can
cause.”