Concerned members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed pessimism over the possibility of holding elections in some crisis ridden federal constituencies across the country over the unabated killings of innocent Nigerians by killer Fulani herdsmen.
The lawmakers who vented their frustrations on the recent gruesome killings of over 70 Benue indigenes including pregnant women and children, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of non-demonstration of sufficient political will to end the massacre as done in the case of Boko Haram which ravaged the North East region of the country.
The lawmakers also expressed concerns over the N100 billion released by President Goodluck Jonathan grazing reserve fund given to state governors without accounting for the fund.
In its intervention, the House resolved to set up an high-powered committee that will interface with all the Security Chiefs wit the view to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the killings and proffer lasting solution to the crisis.
Similarly, the Lower Chamber emphasized the need to convey a stakeholders’ public hearing with the view to collate views of farmers, herdsmen, experts, security and general public on the herdsmen/farmers crises.
The resolutions were passed sequel to the adoption of motions sponsored by Gabriel Kolawole (APC-Ondo) and Dickson Tarkighir (APC-Benue), who emphasised the need to declare state of emergency on security over the spate of deadly attacks in the country by suspected herdsmen.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke on the motion include: Femi Gbajabiamila, Wale Raji, John Dyegh, Hassan Saleh, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, Sadiq Ibrahim, Sergius Ogun, Mohammed Monguno, Emmanuel Oker-Jev, Aisha Dukku, Mark Gbillah, condemned the recent killings in Benue state.
Also speaking, Adamu Chika (APC-Niger) who narrated his experience within Shiroro federal constituency, called for urgency in addressing various crisis ahead of the 2019 general elections.
In his remarks, Hassan Saleh (APC-Benue) who frowned at President Buhari’s inaction towards the killings, said: “if you’re not competent, you should resign.”
He maintained that the President’s response so far was in breach of section 23 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which provides that “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence by Court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”
He noted that members of the Benue State National Assembly caucus visited the Mortuary where corpses of the victims were deposited, adding that the Minister of Interior was dump-handed when he saw the gory scene.
To this end, he warned political leaders to shun sentiment while speaking on issues bothering on the killing of innocent Nigerians, adding that “not even 10 million cows has value of the life of one human being.”
For Nkem-Abonta, cattle rearing as a private business that requires individual to invest into without government’s intervention.
He observed that the herdsmen have continued to disrupt vehicular movement on major streets across Abuja metropolis.
While speaking on the crisis that rocked Benue State, John Dyegh (APC-Benue) lamented that killer herdsmen cum ritualists slaughtered pregnant women and removed the unborn babies as well as removed private parts of some of the victims.
However, Sadiq Ibrahim, argued that there was no justification for enacting anti-open grazing law without alternative for the herdsmen.
On his part, Emmanuel Egoh (PDP-Lagos) emphasized the need to provide intervention fund including loan for the herdsmen like other sector of the economy.
In his submission, Mohammed Mungono urged government to provide nebaling environment for the herdsmen to operate across the country.
While speaking on his engagement with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gbajabiamila expressed support for the cattle colony, stressing that it was an enlarged expanse of land for cattle grazing, adding that it will create value chain opportunities for the operators.
He also underscored the need to review the ECOWAS thrwaty and protocol on free movement with the view to consider its suitability or otherwise for Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila also stressed the need to tackle the issue of arms proliferation in Nigeria.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
