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What Nigerian government must do to end farmer-herder crisis — FFARN, Experts
•Clashes causing Nigeria billions of naira–UN Adviser
The key stakeholders working to find permanent solution to the violent conflicts between farmers and herders say the Nigerian government must begin to run an inclusive government where every Nigerian is carried along in its policies or proposals targeted at ending the conflict.
The stakeholders who said this while reacting to the now suspended Ruga settlements also urged the Federal government to ensure that it’s proposed plans must integrate the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists, and not seperate it.
This was made known at weekend during the three-day workshop on Socio-Ecoligical Analysis of Farner-Herder Conflict in Nigeria and the Sahel by the Forum on Farmer and Herder Relations in Nigeria (FFARN) organised Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in Abuja.
The project lead, FFARN, Ms. Olubukola Ademola-Adelehin, stressed that that Federal Government needs to communicate it’s policies aimed at addressing the herders and farmers conflict clearly, in a way that people listening can understand and also see the benefit to them at the personal level, community level and even to the country as a whole.
Ademola-Adelehin added that a permanent solution to the conflict will require an economic and developmental plan that is able to integrate the interest of the farmers and herders.
She said, “any proposal from government must be in a way that it’s integrating the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists, twhen we separate it, then where is the ‘do no harm that we are suppoaed to do”.
She further explained that the essence of the workshop is to identify key conflict driving farmer-herder conflicts, the parties involved in the conflict. She added that the discussions from the workshop will guide policy makers at state level, national and even international to have holistic view of the conflict towards having appropriate interventions
“This forum is very unique it brings in together experts from academia, from practitioners and policy to look critically and analysis on policies that can inspire government to look at this issues holistically and want to put in peace structures to ensure that the issues are addressed.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director, West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Chukwuemeka Eze noted that the Ruga policy is being introduced within the context of divergence of opinion, multicultural background, and more importantly within a context of trust deficit.
Eze who is the co-lead Facilitator, stressed that it is important that before policies are introduced the education that goes into the content of the policy and the workability of the policy should from the moment of design carru everybody along.
“In so doing people understand the processes and people are able to make inputs, so that when it gets to the public domin, those who are supposed to challenge it or the beneficiaries will be in the same page,” he said.
The WANEP Director also advocated Government should also work to see the inclusion of women in discussions and policies aimed at addressing the conflict.
He said, “the process of inclusivity means that nobody should be left behind. Women constitutes over 50 per cent of the world population, anybody under the illusion that they should be left out of the peacebuilding is actually making the process itself difficult, because the impact of conflict on men and women are different. So, when talking bout gender based peacebuilding approach so everybody is important.”
The Peacebuilding and Develop Adviser to the United Nations (UN) Nigeria, Mr. Zebulon Takwa, however regretted that the ongoing clashes has caused the Federal Government billions of Naira which could have been prevented.
Takwa who is also the Co-lead Facilitator, regretted that the investment and budget for pece in Nigeria and Africa as a whole has been too little.
He opined that there is a strong need to further prevent the conflict using the Socio-Ecoligical Analysis, which has been missing in most of the recommendations for a sustainable solution to the farmers and herders relations.
He said, “prevention can come during conflicts. Government should prevent further killings, the toxic discussions between communities around it should be prevented. Government should engage inclusive discussions to get workable solutions.”
He also called on all Nigerians to be part of the peacebuilding processes, according to him, a peaceful society is the responsibility of all, “when we have the spirit of inclusivity, the spirit of accepting one another, we will begin to look at things differenly.”
At the end, FFARN briefed journalists on the contents of the four Policy Briefs through which it recommended key solutions to the protracted farmers and Herders conflict.
The Policy Briefs which encourages a common ground in Farmers and Herders Relations in Nigeria include: ‘Past is Prologue: Criminality and Reprisal Attacks’; ‘The Implications of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law on Farmer-Herder Relations in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria’; ‘Responses to Conflict between Farmers and Herders in in the Middlebelt of Nigeria: Mapping Past Efforts and Opportunity for Violence Prevention’; and ‘Seeking Security and Stability: An Analysis of Security Responses to Farmer-Herder conflict in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria’.
Here is a downloadable links:
LINKS TO POLICY BRIEFS https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Seeking-Security-and-Stability_Nigeria_-Search-for-Common-Ground.pdf
Policy Brief: Implications of new legislation on farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria
Click to access Responses-to-Conflicts-between-Farmers-and-Herders-in-the-Middle-Belt-FINAL.pdf
Past is Prologue: Criminality & Reprisal Attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt
News
Bolt driver assaulted by Abia rep Ikwechegh apologises for provocation
Stephen Abuwatseya, the Bolt driver who was allegedly assaulted by Alex Ikwechegh, a member of the house of representatives, has apologized to the lawmaker.
The incident occurred on October 27, 2024, in Maitama, Abuja, when Ikwechegh, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), appeared to have slapped and insulted Abuwatseya after the driver asked him to approach the car to receive his package.
The Abia lawmaker was summoned by the disciplinary committee of the house of representatives.
He was also arraigned at a magistrate court in Kuje, Abuja, where he pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge. He was granted a N500,000 bail. The case was adjourned to November 8, 2024.
But in a now-viral video, the Bolt driver apologised to the lawmaker for provoking him to anger.
Abuwatseya also pleaded with Nigerians not to turn the situation into a tribal war, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and unity.
“My name is Stephen. The bolt driver that had a misunderstanding with right honourable Ikwechegh some days ago. I still actually want to apologise to him that I am sorry for whatever I might have said or done to have provoked him to that level of anger,” he said.
“This is actually a medium that I would like to tell all Nigerians that this is not the time for us to start dividing ourselves based on relationship, religion, tribe, or region or anything.
“We should actually come together and try to see how we can unite this nation and move the nation forward. Please Nigerians let us forgive and forget. There is no justice than forgiveness. Thank you very much.”
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EFCC may arrest me next week — but I have nothing to hide, says Obaseki
Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, says he has been told that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will come knocking when his tenure elapses next week.
Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be handing over to Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on November 12.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, during the EdoBEST National Results-Sharing Session, ThisDay reports Obaseki as saying that he would spend his time in EFCC custody doing some research.
“I hear that the EFCC will pick me next week after my tenure. Wherever they keep me, I’ll spend time doing research,” he said.
Obaseki, who has served as Edo governor since 2016, said he has left a legacy in the state.
“There are many things we have done that can be described as legacy projects,” he added.
“I believe in Edo state. One of the things that will last for a very long time to come is the fact that we were able to focus on Edo people and the things that matter to them, reform and implement those things.”
Obaseki said he is being hounded by a “cruel and wicked” opposition in the state, adding that he would gladly hand himself over to the anti-graft agency when the operatives come calling.
“Why should I have fears? I just focused on what I believe in and today, you can see what has been achieved. What happens after that is not up to me,” the outgoing governor said.
“They can continue with their political witch-hunt and do all they can to hurt me, that’s their problem.
“I’m not afraid, I’m not worried. They have written all sorts of silly petitions against me and that’s part of the challenge. In fact, I can even hand myself over, and if they call me, I don’t have anything to hide.
“You know how this country is, it is all about bitterness, it is all about vendetta, wickedness.
“People who have opposed me in Edo state are cruel, very wicked people, very jealous and envious and this is because they cannot show as much as the achievements we have made in the past eight years.
“But what is important to us is to focus on our people in order to make Nigeria better because the suffering is too much.
“We have the advantage and privilege to make things happen. So, we should focus on issues and not on vendetta.”
News
IGP directs police officers to wear black bands in honour of Taoreed Lagbaja
Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, has directed officers to wear black bands in honour of Taoreed Lagbaja, the late chief of army staff (COAS).
In a statement signed by Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, Egbetokun ordered personnel to wear the bands during the seven-day mourning period.
“This directive is to pay tribute and honour the late General who has shown gallantry, dedication, and passion for fighting violent crimes and insurgency in Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“He was a great leader who deserves to be honoured by all means.”
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast in honour of Lagbaja.
Lagbaja died on Tuesday after battling an undisclosed ailment. He was 56-years-old.
He was appointed COAS by Tinubu on June 19, 2023.
Lagbaja enrolled into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987.
In September 1992, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th regular course.
He served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
Lagbaja also participated in various internal security operations, including operation ZAKI in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in south-east, and forest sanity in Kaduna and Niger.
The president has appointed Olufemi Oluyede as acting COAS.
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