From Yahaya Audu, Bauchi
The National Women leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani socio-cultural association Hajiya Baheejah Mahmood Abdullahi has stated that its shameful to oppose government laudable Ruga Project that will help to improve the living standard of Fulani herdsmen in the country, just as she advised government to make a uturn and implement the project in the interest of unity.
Hajiya Baheejah stated this when she interacted with reporters in Bauchi, she said Fulani herdsmen suffers unjust neglect from the three tiers of government in Nigeria in terms of the provision of basic infrastructures and basic amenities just now that the Federal government intended to bring Ruga Project it was opposed by some people that don’t meant well for the progress of Nigeria.
She said government is for all Nigerians its expected to provide infrastructure and development to all Nigerians, recently Federal Government awards 3.9bn contact on Warri seaport, and The 90-hectare Ibadan Inland Dry port (IDP), estimated to gulp about $99.6 million (35.8 billion) no one oppose the projects and many others why are they opposing Project that wil benefit herdsmen? Nigerian’s should learn to tolerate each other and they should be patience and avoid doing anything that will bring hatred , disaffection and disunity “,
Baheejah said “nomadic Fulanis are the only tribe that suffer in silence, the hatred, brutally marginalized, lack of sympathizers, voice less, misrepresented, misunderstood, misguided by many different ethnics in the country and that most people want to take advantage of and the major problem now is that there issue is politicized to achieve the selfish interest of mischief makers.
Woman leader said “the Fulanis are not criminals they are hardworking entrepreneurs self-reliant honest reserve and conservative people, law abiding, pay tax as at when due ,and do not have access to basic amenities rest of the Nigerians enjoy. they were labeled as criminals out of hatred and unfairness, but they are not. There are many tribes where they have criminals committing various crimes and criminalities in Nigeria and have even excel to international levels but have you ever hear the names of their tribes being mentioned?, people that stole from the Fulani, killed them makes them become hostile what are they? Whenever you make arrest of suspects you have to go deep and find out who are their sponsors. If there sponsors are identified then you will know the real actors behind a fulani criminals”
She said The Fulani’s gain next to nothing from the Government of the country. Because they are mostly on the move, they do not benefit from the provision of basic amenities such as Schools, Hospitals, and roads. electricity, Tap or borehole water and bridges despite their contribution to the economic development of the country. Especially “the huge direct and in-direct contribution they make to the employment creation drive of the Government; groups such as butchers, traders in cattle and other animals, traders in hides and skin, makers of leather shoes and bags, and Yoghurt producing companies all depend on the animal product produced by the Fulani’”s.
Baheejah said what the “ Fulani’s need is a kind of Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the government to boost the production of the animals and their products, take for example if the Fulani should decide to go on boycott for one week that they will not bring their livestock to the Market all Nigerians will then know and appreciate their contribution to the economy and their significant contribution for the well-being of Nigerians, igbo man Yoruba and other tribes all comes and do their business in the remotes northern Nigeria villages without hindrace or discrimination of any kind, we most learn to embrace each other”
She advised three tiers of government to be fair and just to Fulani and all Nigerians in the interest of justice peace unity and progress in Nigeria.
