More reactions have continued to trail the purported moves by the Governor Simon Lalong-led administration in Plateau State to implement grazing reserves policy in the State, as the Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) on Wednesday cautioned the State Government over the serious tension being generated as a result of his plan to implement the policy in the State.
BECO strongly believes that implementing such a policy now will serve no useful purpose, but will generate another round of violent conflict instead.
The socio-cultural organisation in a press statement signed by its General Secretary, Davou Choji Davou in Jos, demanded that herdsmen currently occupying Beromland forcefully in Gashish, Riyom, and Bachit Districts must be made to leave unconditionally.
“The attention of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) has been drawn to the contradictory and confusing pronouncements by Plateau State Governor Barr. Simon Lalong on the vexed issues of Grazing reserves in Plateau State, initially the Governor was quoted at a function in ECWA Headquarters as saying no grazing reserves will be created in the state.
“At another instance he declared that President Muhammadu Buhari and some Governors were in agreement on creating ranches as a panacea to the farmer-herder conflicts”.
“The idea of grazing reserves in the view of many, is aim at carving out territories and domains at the expense of the natives for the interest of the fulani.
“The attacks, killings and destruction of food crops in Berom land have recently emanated from the fulani self-created enclaves. Legitimizing such would therefore be an endorsement of illegitimate and illegal acts”, the statement warned.
“BECO wishes to clearly and firmly state that Berom do not and shall never support the creation of Grazing Reserves on our land, no matter how defined, Berom Land has had its own share of troubles from Tin Mining Conglomerates, rapid forces of urbanization, and Jihadist campaigns of terror, and shall not yield to deceitful devices of Land-grap and territorial expansion for the benefit of ‘Special Nigerians’.
“We will however lend encouragement to any individual or group that is predisposed to the idea of ranching on his ancestral or acquired land”.
It would be recalled that the immediate past Governor of the State and Senator representing Plateau North, Jonah Jang has condemned Governor Lalong’s action, describing it as, “anti-people and should be rejected”.
This was contained in a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Clinton Garuba and made available to journalists in Jos, last weekend.
It reads, “The Lawmaker wish to inform his constituents and all peace loving Plateau people that he does not and will not support any grazing reserve either on the floor of the senate or any forum/platform where the issue is discussed.
“The issue has generated a lot of controversy amongst plateau people because government has decided to play politics with issues that affect the very fabric which defines the heritage of our people, their culture and their land.”
Also, last week Thursday, the member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom constituency in the House Representatives, Hon. Istifanus Gyang, had said his constituency is not part of the proposed grazing reserve in Plateau State.
Gyang said, no portion of land within his constituency (Barkin Ladi and Riyom) should be gazetted or appended for such grazing plans because it goes against the wishes of his people.
In the same vein, a group under the aegis of Plateau G-17 Youths for Peace and Progress Forum, on Monday this week, kicked against the move, calling on the state government to have a rethink and retrace its steps.
The group while on a peaceful protest against the action in Jos, the State Capital, said its action is in tandem with the mood of the majority of citizens of the state.
Also women in the State have staged a protest against the grazing reserves issue.
The women marched the streets of Jos with various inscriptions denouncing the inclusion of Plateau in the grazing policy, while calling on the State Government to rescind its decision.
Wearing black and singing songs of unity, the women were vehement in their rejection of the grazing plans.
They called on government to act swiftly and accordingly, saying “posterity will judge our actions if we mortgage our future for trivial gains of today.”
In a swift reaction to the rejection, the Director of Press and Public Affair to the Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Nanle, in a press statement said, “Governor Lalong has stated unequivocally that the issue of Grazing Reserve and Ranches are options that are entirely within the purview of the Customary Land Owners and Local Councils to volunteer for the benefits of their people.
“Governor Lalong has not at any point acquired compulsorily any land in any locality for the purpose of ceding to any ethnic group or faith; it is public knowledge that this is incongruent to his person and people oriented leadership character.”
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