Macban and Afenifere dismiss Osinbajo's 10-man herdsmen panel as unworkable and diversionary

FULANI herdsmen's body the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (Macban) has dismissed a recent panel created by the National Economic Council (Nec) to look into the clashes between pastoralists and farmers saying it will not work with it.

 

Last week, the Nec established a 10-manm panel to be chaired by vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo to look into the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country. Among those on the committee are the governors of Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi and Oyo States.

 

However, Macban has declared that it will not work with the committee as it will not produce the desired result with the inclusion of governors Darius Ishaku and Samuel Ortom of Taraba and Benue states. Alhaji Mafindi Danburam, the chairman of Macban's north eastern zone, said that the two governors, who have promulgated military decrees in their states, would influence other members of the committee .

 

Alhaji Danburam added: “The committee would not produce the desired result with the inclusion of governors Darius Ishaku and Samuel Ortom of Benue. The two governors, who have promulgated military decrees in their states , will make attempt to influence other members of the committee .

 

"Their ban on open grazing is anti-Fulani. I want to tell you that I am disappointed completely in this present administration because this crisis has been happening for the past three years and the federal government did nothing to stop it.”

 

Also rejecting the Osinbajo panel, Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, said setting up such a body shows the absence of a leader in the country. According to Afenifere, the Osinbajo panel was diversionary and unnecessary.

 

Afenifere spokesman Yinka Odumakin, said President Muhammadu Buhari, should have deployed the necessary security apparatus to apprehend the perpetrators of the killings and put an end to the bloodshed instead of setting up a nonsensical committee. Like Mabcan, Afenifere does not believe the panel will succeed in ending the killings.

 

Mr Odumakin said: “The president has set up a committee to go and look for what is not lost. Some people are killing others like chickens, the laws are there, the president is keeping quiet and you are now setting up an Osinbajo committee, to go and do what?

 

“It is like sending the inspector general of police to Benue, to go and do what? The committee is diversionary, it is unnecessary and it shows the absence of leadership in the country, the committee is nonsensical.”

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