Mr. Sunny Onuesoke, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Delta State governorship candidate, has thrown his weight behind calls by Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and members of House of Representatives for the Federal Government to ban entry of herdsmen from other African countries into Nigeria.
Giving his support to the call in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, Onuesoke disclosed that if Nigerians truly want peace, President Muhammadu Buhari, should listen to the advice of Ganduje and the members of House of Representative by banning the entry of foreign herders into the country.
He pointed out that the positions of the governor and lawmakers better appreciate the lawlessness of the armed herdsmen that has led to the loss of hundreds of lives around the country in recent years with our leaders turning a blind eye to these atrocities or making statements that tacitly encourage them.
“Politics apart, Ganduje and members of the House of Representatives have said the truth. Other governors and lawmakers who truly want peace and love Nigeria should voice same out in unison. Let’s tell Mr. President we do not want Fulani of the world in Nigeria. Don’t allow them into the country again.
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“Already, we have enough trouble to contend with Boko Haram, ISIS, bandits, herders-farmers clash, raping, kidnapping and joblessness. As if these atrocities were not enough, now we have to deal with Fulani herders who have access to heavy artillery and weapons supply from the Maghreb region and ISIS,” the PDP chieftain noted.
Speaking further, Onuesoke observed that pastoral activities had and would continue to be a major element in disputes across the Sahel fueled by herdsmen and yet our think tanks saw nothing wrong by allowing these vagrants to easily come into Nigeria and acquire citizenship.
He observed that their coming into Nigeria had increase the illiteracy levels, Almajiri community, banditry, kidnapping, robbery, disruption of farming activities and endangering the lives of the citizens, among others.
Onuesoke advised that herdsmen should stop living in the ancient method of cattle husbandry and embrace ranching which mitigate the perils of walking the animals and equally helps them to spread their overall risk profile through insurance.
