Fulani
herdsmen in the northern part of Nigeria have threaten to unleash
mayhem if the anti-grazing law is passed by the lawmakers.
File Photo
Members of Taraba State chapter of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association of Nigeria, clad with arms, yesterday, took its protest
against the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranchers Establishment
Bill 2017 to the House of Assembly, threatening breakdown of law if the
bill is passed.
The anti-open grazing bill was sponsored as an executive bill to
the state House of Assembly by Governor Darius Ishaku about a month ago.
The speech of the state’s Chairman of Miyeti Allah, Sahabi Tukur,
was read by Alhaji Adamu Azo at the gate of the Taraba State House of
Assembly before the Speaker, Peter Diah, and other members of House.
The association described the bill as a move targeted to subdue the
Fulani tribe and also to undermine and restrict activities of the
Fulani tribe in the state.
The group called on the lawmakers to stop the bill in the
collective interest of the people of the state. It also threatened that
there would be a breakdown of law and order, should the House pass the
bill into law.
While addressing newsmen, the Speaker, Diah, condemned the threats
by the Chairman of Miyeti Allah, noting that the association was
protesting in ignorance since the issues raised during the protest were
accommodated within the proposed bill.
He said the committee set up by the House of Assembly to handle the
process of the bill had given three weeks within which to conduct
public hearing on the bill before passage, where all issues that appear
unclear will be addressed.
He called on Miyeti Allah to compile all areas they are not
comfortable with as a memorandum for the public hearing, stressing that
the Assembly had given room for groups and individuals to attend the
public hearing with their lawyers.
He described the protest as a deliberate move by Miyeti Allah to
cause public disorder in the state capital, as the group did not follow
due process, which was the reason security did not allow them access
into the assembly complex.
He said: “How can you mobilise for protest and you allow your
members to carry arms? The Assembly is an organised place and the
security will not allow disorder.
“I think that was why they were not allowed access into the
complex, but as a leader who was elected by the people, I insisted I
will attend to them, even in the midst of their weapons."
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