- Chief Olu Falae, has blamed northern states for the crisis caused by herdsmen in Nigeria
- The former minister of finance highlighted some of the factors responsible for the crisis
- Falae repeatedly called on the federal government to take proactive steps in addressing the matter
Former secretary to the Federal Government and national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chief Olu Falae, has blamed the states in the north for the crisis caused by herdsmen in Nigeria, Vanguard reports.
NAIJ.com gathered that the 79-year-old in an interview on Channels Television’s Roadmap 2019, explained that state governments in the region abandoned the policy introduced by former leaders to take care of herders.
He said: “The problem of the herdsmen has been exacerbated by the failure of many of the state governments in the North to take care of the needs of the herdsmen.’’
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According to Falae, the needs of the herdsmen were thoroughly met during the days of late Sir Ahmadu Bello – the then premier of the Northern region and Sardauna of Sokoto. He highlighted some of the factors responsible for the crisis to include the reduction in size of the Lake Chad.
He recalled that during the period, there were grazing reserves while all kinds of facilities were provided for the herdsmen and their cattle.
In September 2015, the former minister of finance a victim of the crisis, was kidnapped for days by by herdsmen in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
The police had confirmed that the abductors demanded a N100 million as ransom before they would release the elder statesman.
The elder statesman in further reaction to the herdsmen crisis, repeatedly called on the federal government to take proactive steps in addressing the matter.
He asked the government to tackle the depletion of the Lake Chad, erosion, as well as the Boko Haram insurgency among other challenges.
“Over one million people are herdsmen who earn their livelihood from the lake can no longer do so.
“Added to that, are those uprooted by Boko Haram and then, desertification has been continuously eroding the arable land in Nigeria.
“When you put all these factors together, you find a tremendous pressure on herdsmen and their cattle and the response should have come from the state governments and the Federal Government to take care of their needs because they are Nigerians who are entitled to their livelihood,” he added.
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NAIJ.com previously reported that a section of the farm owned by a former secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae had been set on fire.
Herdsmen are being accused of torching the farm located in Ilado Village, Akure north local government of Ondo state, NAN reports.
According to reports, the arsonists did not steal anything on the farm but burnt down five hectares of oil palm plantation.
What should the federal govt do to tackle the herdsmen attacks in the country? - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng