Politicians behind herdsmen/farmers clashes a�� Miyetti Allah

From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The national president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo, on Thursday in Kano indicted politicians over the raging herdsmen/farmers clashes that have continued to claim the lives of innocent Nigerians across the country.
Badejo insisted that power-hungry politicians who are plotting to grab power in 2019 general elections are hiding under the cloak of the herdsmen/farmers clashes to instigate anarchy in the country.
Badejo in an interview with journalists in Kano lamented that, a�?the worrisome trend, over the rampant killings has now taken a frightening dimension in which the politicians are cashing in on to create a division in the minds of the people by branding the Fulani herdsmen as ‘killers’ a�?
According to him, a�?politicians are interfering in the Fulani herdsmen/ farmers crisis. They are trying to create a division, as well as divide the minds of the people. Politicians are punishing farmers, including Fulani cattle herdsmen because they want to use the face-off as a basis for 2019 politics.”
In his opinion, a�?the Fulani are peace loving people, who have a unique identity, different from other races. So, for people to now label Fulani of carrying AK 47 Assault rifles to kill is totally false. The Fulani worldwide are only engaged in cattle rearing and nothing else.
”They plan to create 5,000 hectares of land to be used as cattle colonies in some states. It is a welcome idea, but if the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom had agreed to create the proposed cattle colonies, rather than the grazing law he enacted, it would have not degenerated into the current controversy. He would have addressed the face-off.
”But this Ortom’s law is by no means favourable to the Fulani, that is why we are vehemently opposed to it. So, the proposed colony will serve as an enduring solution to the lingering Fulani herdsmen/farmers crisis. And as such, we are in support of the Federal Government’s agenda to create the colonies.”
He also appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to seize the opportunity of his relocation to Benue State, a�?to establish the truth, as to who is attacking who and at the close of the day, prosecute, whoever is found guilty. The Fulani have been and are still peace-loving people.a�?
He insisted that, ”only desperate politicians are opposed to the creation of cattle colonies for Fulani herdsmen. These issues have been politicized.”
According to him, a�?anyone armed with AK 47 Assault rifle cannot be rearing cows. The person must be an armed robber from somewhere, disguising as a Fulani Herdsman and carrying weapons, as well as wearing Fulani attire to deceive the public.a�?
He expressed worry over rampant attacks occurring between famers, communities and Fulani cattle herdsmen in some parts of the country, adding that, a�?if any Fulani man invades somebody’s farm and steal, let the Fulani man be arrested and called to order rather than not only politicizing it but blowing it out of proportion.a�?