National President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Abdullahi Bodejo, has challenged governors over what he called grazing reserves in their states.
Bodejo said governments were making money off cattle business but they were note prepared to offer it an enabling environment.
He cited the example of Lagos State where, he claimed, some 6,000 cows were slaughtered daily with attendant revenue to the government.
“States are making revenues from cows. For example, in Lagos, over 6,000 cows are killed daily and the state government is making so much money from that and that is the way it is in other states of the country,” he said in an interview with ‘The Sun’.
Bodejo lamented that the Fulani were being scandalised, but noted that they were peace-loving.
He further said:
“Yes. We are just saying the same thing, whether Ruga or cattle colony, but the only thing is that Fulani issue in Nigeria is being used to play politics.
“If you are losing election and you want to gain back lost ground, play the Fulani politics. If you want to win election in 2023, you can start using anti-grazing law.
“We have grazing routes and grazing reserves and if Nigeria wants to solve the herdsmen and farmers clashes once and for all, you are a governor and you want to enjoy peace in your state, you don’t need any long meeting, just create a particular area for the Fulani and equip them with modern amenities. Instead of doing this, they are playing bad politics with Fulani.
“Since when the Ruga started, I’m yet to see any, except the efforts being made by the Zamfara State governor. No other governor is doing anything about it; it is still politics.
“Look at the support given to rice farmers through anchor borrowers programme; it is running into several billions of naira, and yet there is nothing for the Fulani business.
“Some people are saying cattle rearing is a private business, but the about 99 per cent of the cows we are eating in this country are from Fulani.”
