Ace lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana has slammed the federal government for parading all Nigerians as jokers.
The soft-spoken lawyer said said the proposal by the government to establish cattle colonies in the country was wrong and should be buried.
Speaking on a Channels TV programme, Falana said it was obvious the government placed more value on animals than humans.
His words, “With respect to the national economic council, I think we busy chasing the shadows as a people,” he said.
“The government is parading Nigerians as a bunch of jokers. It is not rocket science to solve this problem. And I am bothered when leaders come out to make statements that give the impression that we are either out to cover up serious criminality
“We don’t want a committee for heaven’s sake! A committee to do what? To go and find out how many people have been killed? Or to establish the fact that we have been in this problem for five years running and nobody is addressing the problem… the committee is just to deceive Nigerians.”
Quoting the Global Terrorism Index, the lawyer listed the number of people who have died in the crisis over the years.
“In 2014, we lost about 1,300 people. Between 2013 and 2016, 1,800 people were killed in Benue state alone. And this government knew this problem before it came on board; it was part of its campaign,” he said.
“And this government, upon its inauguration, has repeatedly maintained, and quite correctly, that the only solution to the incessant violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers is to establish ranches in the country.
The activist also took a swipe at Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture, for proposing the establishing of “cattle colonies”, he said.
He said Ogbeh was talking about cattle colonies “to confuse Nigerians”.
He added: “According to him (Ogbeh), the colonies will mean a group of ranches. Why are you using such word as if you are giving the impression in a tensed atmosphere that you want to colonise certain parts so the country. It is so nonsensical. Government has to take Nigerians seriously.”
Kommentare