By Godwin Tyonongu
Abuja
Members of the National Assembly (NASS) have been urged to work in solidarity to ensure that the proposed National Grazing Bill “sees the light of the day.”
Addressing newsmen after a n emergency meeting in Abuja on the state of the nation, the coordinator, National Youth Consultative Group (NYCG), Hon. AYuba A. Ibrahim, noted that the issue of creating grazing areas in the country started since the tenure of former president Good luck Jonathan and there is every need for the present NASS to see its possible passage into law.
He said: “Creating grazing zones instead of ranches will reduce the incessant crises between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers who often see themselves as cat and dogs whenever they come in contact; it will be difficult for herdsmen to match on farm lands again as it is always alleged.
“We once faced a similar crisis in my community Toto in Nasarawa state; during Igbila and Bassa crisis; virtually all the tribes were affected because of the problem; we would not want it to repeat that is why we insist on having peace talks all the time.
“When it happened in Toto, it was the traditional institution led by the paramount ruler of Nakuse, Chief Dhailo Ayuba, that intervened promptly with the former governor, Abdullahi Adamu, before the security sent by the federal government arrived to end the feud.”
He noted that shortly after the crisis, the people of the area introduced inter- tribal marriage as a panacea to bridging the gap between the warring factions for peace, saying that “in the same vein, the crisis between herdsmen and farmers can be laid to rest through such measures as grazing zones and other dialogue means.”