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You have exaggerated opinion of your ability – PANDEF to northern elders
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Following the call by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on President Muhammadu Buhari and governors of the 36 states of Nigeria to protect the Fulani in the southern parts of the country, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has warned the group of the danger in having exaggerated opinion of its ability.
PANDEF described as presumptuous NEF’s call for the protection of Fulani communities in the south.
It urged governors, particularly of southern states, and the people, “not be perturbed by the tirades of this self-conceited people.”
National Publicity Secretary, PANDEF, Hon Ken Robinson, in a statement on Wednesday, said the elders’ comment spoke to the “general disposition of arrogance and erroneous grandiosity” of the Fulani north.
His words: “PANDEF implores the Northern Elders and their surrogates to get off the high-horse. And the sooner, the better, for the country, and all of us. Nigeria belongs to all of us, no section owns the country more than the other; we are equal stakeholders.
“Where was the Northern Elders Forum when arm-wielding herdsmen were killing, harassing innocent citizens, and raping women in their farms?
“Northern Elders did not realise then that they were setting the country on a dangerous path.
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“Meyitti Allah Cattle Rearers group has been arrogantly conducting themselves like “landlords” of Nigeria, without any demonstration.
“It is now that southern governors have begun taking appropriate steps to safeguard lives and livelihoods of their people, that Northern elders have found their voice in defence of the herdsmen.
“It is a pity that in a heterogeneous country like Nigeria, one ethnic group would make itself a content of crisis.
“For goodness’ sake, cattle rearing is a private business; let those involved establish ranches, instead of taking over lands and terrorising communities.
“The killings, kidnappings, and other criminal activities being perpetrated by herdsmen will not be allowed to continue.
“While PANDEF would denounce any attacks on innocent citizens, by any group, in any part of the country, it is important to emphasise that the prohibition of open grazing and movement of cattle, as well as the ejection orders to groups who have been illegally and forcefully occupying forests, are pertinent and indisputable,” he stated.
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The northern elders on Tuesday, urged President Buhari and state governors to explore all available channels to protect the Fulani communities in the South.
Director, Publicity and Advocacy, NEF, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, made the call in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja.
The forum, which insisted that no politician had the right to outsource the work of the police to local thugs and gangs, said it was worried by the reports of forced ejections and attacks on Fulani herders, their families and communities in some states of the south since Sunday night.
“The Forum calls on President Muhammadu Buhari and State Governors to take immediate and decisive steps to protect law-abiding members of Fulani communities from killers and criminals who apparently believe that Fulani have no rights in Nigeria.
“It demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of persons who are attacking Fulani and setting the country on a very dangerous path,” Baba-Ahmed declared in the statement.