The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association, an umbrella body of herdsmen, has accused Nigerians of politicizing conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in most communities.
A leader of the group in the South East, Alhaji Gidado Saddikie on Thursday said the issue of herdsmen/farmers’ feud should be addressed with all sincerity devoid of sentiment, politics or religion.
Saddikie, who was probably reacting to allegation by the Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Paul Unongo, that a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar was the chief financier and most influential member of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, said the matter was taking a political dimension.
He said politicising the issue was no way to find a solution to the problem, but would rather stir bad blood among those involved.
Saddikie identified wrong government approach and lack of sensitisation as some of the major causes of herdsmen/ farmers’ conflict in most communities.
He said, “People play politics with this issue. Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a Fulani, but he is not a member of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association. He has not attended our meeting before; so how can he be a financier of the association?
“Let me tell you, it’s wrong government approach and negligence that are causing these conflicts. How can somebody say Atiku is our financier?
“Most state governments think that herdsmen and farmers are commoners that should not be heard. You must hear them because they are human beings who are contributing to the economic growth of our country, at their own level”.
He said a synergy existed between herdsmen and farmers in the south east because governors in the zone have been proactive.
“We have this understanding and synergy in the south East on how to handle this issue because the governors here and other leaders are proactive.
“We have agreed that any herdsman that destroys the crops of farmers should pay for such damage, and if any farmer kills any herdsman’s cow, he pays for such cow. We understand ourselves here in the southeast, but some other places, it’s not so.
“We have told our people that they should not consider their cows more than any human life. If they kill your cow, report to us. We’ll know how to handle it amicably. Don’t take the laws into your hands.”
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