Fulani Leader Begs FG To Create More Grazing Reserves

A Fulani leader, Alhaju Abdulkadir Salihu, has appealed to the Federal Government to create more grazing reserves across the country to curb the incessant clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.
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Salihu made this known on Monday when he received members of the 2014 Press Week Committee of the Kwara State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
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The Fulani leader, who is also the National President, Jamu Nati Fulbe Association of Nigeria, said the perceived neglect of Fulani pastoralists had widened the gap between them.
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Salihu said that the appeal was necessitated by the need to reduce the danger posed by the conflict between the two as well as economic losses.
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He said the clashes could have been averted if government had listened to the several passionate appeals made to it on the establishment of grazing reserves.
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The Fulani leader said that his association had been championing the cause and protecting the interest of members.
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Salihu said this was done by creating branches in many parts of the country to integrate all Fulanis, adding that Ekiti and Kogi were yet to get branches.
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He told the team that the association had become a training avenue mfor the youth, and urged government to recognise the Fulani pastoralists because of their contributions to the nation’s economic growth.
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He, however, said that the association was working relentlessly to incorporate some Fulani bororos, whom he said, had remained dissenters in their activities.
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“I want to say that this association has brought peace and maintained cordiality with the people across the country.
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“We meet with farmers both the subsistence and commercial ones on the need to live in peace. That is why our association serves as training ground for the youth among us.
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“We have established branches across the country except Ekiti and Kogi which we are working on.
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“Government should establish more grazing reserves because we don’t want our cattle to be encroaching on farmlands,” he said
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Salihu appealed to the Oyo State Government to provide them with water, hospitals and other social infrastructure that would make life more meaningful for their members.
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He appealed to members to work collectively and shun any act that could truncate the peace of their respective settlements.
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Earlier, the NUJ Chairman in Kwara, Mr Abiodun Abdulkareem, commended Salihu for his contribution to peace building in Oyo.
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Abdulkareem said that the Press Week was designed to honour people with integrity and impeccable character, adding that the union did not compromise standard in its choices.