From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Plateau Initiative for the Advancement of Natives (PIDAN) has expressed support for the enactment and implementation of the Federal Government’s Livestock Transformation Program (LTP) in Plateau State.
The President  Prof.

The group in a press statement issued by the President Prof. Aboki Madaki and the Secretary Comrade Nanle Gujor and at weekend in Jos the State capital faulted the position of MACBAN for claiming that the implementation of the bill in the State will plunge the State into crisis.

Its statement read: “MACBAN chose to make its statement more public through a press conference/release on 31-01-2022, thus inviting the opinion of the members of the public to its position as regards the draft bill.

“It became necessary for us as Plateau autochthonous to examine the issues raised by MACBAN’s position and offer suggestions for both MACBAN and other stakeholders who may share similar views with MACBAN. The issue of using alien strategies such as ranching in Nigeria to advance sociology-economic development is not new.  The fact that the National Livestock transformation Program recommends among others ranching  of livestock, implies that the Federal Government has seen that ranching is a viable option and that states can mobilize the necessary resources to implement the programme. 

“The insinuation that the implementation of the bill will jeopardize the nascent peace is not supported by the views of most stakeholders at the public hearing who saw the bill as a strategic approach to curbing the incessant herders-farmers clashes and endorsed it.”

The President insisted that some of the key objectives of the bill is to “strengthen the peace on the Plateau through curbing the incessant herders-farmers clashes and boosting economic development of the State.

“It could be true that many Fulani had misconceptions about the bill, given the perception of MACBAN leadership, however, it is the responsibility of the MACBAN leadership to educate its members, the basis for which MACBAN had received invitations to represent them in all stakeholders’ interactions with Government on the matter. 

“The concern by MACBAN that the Fulani livestock specie is unrancheable should not constitute a basis for rejecting the bill but rather present an opportunity for MACBAN to negotiate a system of replacement of the current specie since ranching is a Federal Government recommended strategy which the Plateau State Government bought into and the Federal Government is quite aware of the nature of the specie of cattle owned by peasant Fulani herders in Nigeria given the enriched Fulani background of Mr President.” 

It could be recalled that MACBAN through the State Chairman State Muhammad Nuru Abdullahi and the State Legal Adviser Salisu Isa Muhammad referred the Plateau State Government to the happenings in Benue State.

“A good example is what is happening in Benue state where the law is in practice. Knowing the perennial inter-ethnic and inter-religious crises that engulfed Plateau in the past, and that is currently happening in some parts of the state, some marshals will use the medium to discriminate against the Fulani herders.”

The Fulani organization recommended that “as peace loving citizens to the government of Plateau state to redirect the resources meant for the project to other developmental programmes that will impact positively on the citizens of the state. 

“In view of the above, we the peace-loving Fulani herders wish to appeal to the Honourable speaker and the members of the House to have a rethink and suspend the Bill for the general interest of the state and her citizens.”