As the federal government's plans to establish a nationwide sedentary settlements for Fulani herders continued to gather ire and pushbacks from Nigerians, a former Kaduna legislator, Jonathan Asake, on Monday, added insult to the injury.
The former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo recounted how a similar initiative floated in1987 by the Kaduna State Government for the old Kachia Local Government Area, which comprises Zangon Kataf, Chikun, Kajuru and Kachia local government areas today, cost some indigenes their lands as the herders soon converted the settlement into an emirate, sending owners parking.
His statement echoes the agitations of the critics of the initiative which the federal goverment claimed is a measure to contain palpable conflict between herders and farmers across various sections of the country.
"The overall benefit to the nation includes a drastic reduction in conflicts between herders and farmers, a boost in animal protection complete with a value chain that will increase the quality and hygiene of livestock in terms of beef and milk production, increased quality of feeding and access to animal care and private sector participation in commercial pasture production by way of investments, Garba Shehu, said on Sunday.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity who disputed claims that the settlements are a cover to seize peoples' land and allow Fulanis to colonise the country, added that “Other gains are job creation, access to credit facilities, security for pastoral families and curtailment of cattle rustling.
But Jonathan flatly insists, asserting that the idea is a smokescreen by the federal government to grab land for the northerners across the country.
He spoke during the popular Channels TV programme, 'Sunrise Daily.'
His word: “That grazing reserve has been changed to Laduga. Laduga is actually a Fulani word and no indigene is there. The land has been taken over from the indigenes. And that place is now a big town, with big hospitals and road."
