Former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum Professor Ango Abdullahi has advised the Federal Government to pay attention to the problems affecting Fulani herdsmen by rehabilitating 600 abandoned grazing reserves across the northern part of the country.
Abdullahi gave the advice on Wednesday while interacting with reporters in Bauchi where he lamented that herdsmen in this country have now become an object of politics decrying that every crime committed is being attributed to them.
“The Fulani herdsman was better off when the British were here, the British created track road for him, created veterinary clinics for him, created even cattle markets and so on for him, having known that the economy of Nigeria particularly the agricultural sector’s contribution of crops and livestock significantly. Look at subsidies that are going to our farmers, but if you check it, you will find out that nothing goes to the herdsman”, he alleged.
He added that Nigerians should look at the contribution the Fulani herdsman is making to the economy saying he stays in the bush 24 hours, with mosquitoes, tsetse fly, snakes and everything only to provide meat to the country.
” And yet you are waiting to eat cheap meat here in Bauchi Market. What are you doing for him, you have subsidy on electricity, water, roads etc., yet he has no subsidy whatsoever and he is the most hardworking Nigerian today, but he is now being maligned as the cause of insecurity and soon.”
“This is despite the fact that his animals are being rustled. So when you deprive him of his animals what do you want him to do? He will be hostile”. He said.