Politics
THE Peoples Democratic Party caucus at the House of Representatives on Sunday condemned the incessant killings by herdsmen in the country, saying that it confirmed the failure of the Federal Government to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
The caucus observed that the recent hacking to death of over 73 people in Benue State and more conflicts in Taraba and other states exposed the helplessness of the government.
The caucus declared its position in Abuja just as another member from Kogi State, Mr. Tajudeen Yusuf, cautioned the Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, against buying into the Federal Government’s cattle colony initiative without first consulting widely with the Kogi indigenes.
The PDP caucus Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, who expressed the views of the group, noted that the government’s silence and slow response to killings suggested that it was not disturbed by the loss of the lives of its citizens.
Ogor stated, “The first fundamental duty of any government is the security of citizens’ lives and property, but it is deeply unfortunate, historically horrific and spiritually negative that under the APC government, the nation is witnessing endless rounds of senseless killings of men, women and children in Benue, Taraba and other states.
“Within the past two years, unidentified herdsmen have displaced Boko Haram in terms of mindless killings; it is unfortunate that once again, just like they did several times before, rampaging herdsmen in utter contempt for Benue State’s anti-grazing law, wantonly descended on Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State in a new year attack that left scores of dead bodies.
“Herdsmen now rank high on the Global Terrorism Index and nationwide, mindless killings, armed robberies and dastardly kidnappings have increased under the APC government, which now repays the overwhelming votes from the people with long conspiratorial silence and numb promises while the number of corpses mounts.
“Security is one of the three major commitments that the APC government guaranteed the nation at its inception, but in the usual pattern of elevating deceit and propaganda above all else, it has woefully remained unable to rein in worsening insecurity across the nation.
“Today, the result is that our gallant military personnel and other security operatives are immersed in tackling crises in all parts of Nigeria.”
The caucus cited Ogun, Katsina and Zamfara as other states where attacks had taken place lately while the government did little to protect the victims.
In addition to the recent kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl in Katsina State, the caucus said it was saddening that many big farmers in the North were avoiding their farms in other to remain alive.
“Sani Bello, a member of the House of Representatives representing Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency died a few months after a kidnap ordeal on the way to his farm near Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State last year.
“The following month, an Assistant Commissioner of Police serving in Zamfara State was abducted along the same road and many more violent deaths and kidnappings have continued across the nation.
“Two years of the APC government’s budgetary outlay for surveillance surpasses the entire amount spent on surveillance by various successive administrations since independence; yet it is curious that the government obtains no warning signals and seems unable to bring bands of rampaging terrorist herdsmen to justice,” the caucus added.
On his part, Yusuf, who is from Kogi State, advised Bello to be cautious in rushing to embrace the government’s cattle colony initiative.
The Kogi governor was one of the first governors to back the cattle colony proposal, saying that his state would readily provide land to accommodate the project.
But Yusuf said the governor’s plan to embrace the proposal after consulting with traditional rulers could backfire as the royal fathers did not own family or community lands in the state.
He warned that even members of his own party, the All Progressives Congress, could revolt against Yahaya if he did not consult widely before supporting the proposal. – Punch
– Jan. 22 2018 @ 08:59 GMT
Tags: Benue State Herdsmen killings sign of FG’s failure —PDP Reps caucus Mr. Leo Ogor Mr. Yahaya Bello Peoples Democratic Party Tajudeen Yusuf Taraba
