From BARBARA KALU
In a bold move aimed at forestalling future clashes between armed Fulani herdsmen and farmers which have claimed thousands of lives in the last four years, the governors of the five south-eastern states of Nigeria declared on Sunday that no land in the region would be donated for ranching purposes.
The five states that make up the South-east geo-political zone are Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Led by David Umahi of Ebonyi State, the South-east governors announced after their meeting in Enugu that it was their collective decision that no land would be made available for the establishment of cattle ranches in the zone.
The decision of the South-East governors coincided with the warning Pan-Igbo
Socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo that ranching, as proposed by the Federal Government, would not be allowed in the region.
Dismissing media reports that some states in the South-east geo-political zone had accepted to donate large parcels of land for the proposed ranching, Governor Umahi said: “No land in the southeast has been donated for ranching. We have not donated any land; we have not been asked to donate and we are not going to donate. Ranching is not approved by the southeast governors in the southeast.”
He continued: “The southeast governors Forum commiserates with the Governor of Plateau State and the people of the state for the recent killings. We condemn the killings and join other regions to demand justice for the Plateau people.
“Southeast governors have noticed increased challenges in the movement of herdsmen from one state and region to another with the resultant effect of massive destruction of farmlands with attendant clashes with farmers.
“Southeast governors have been spending huge funds in settling farmers whose farms and crops are destroyed – we, therefore, request an emergency meeting in the southeast with federal security chiefs, farmers and herdsmen to stop the movements and prevent clashes.”
Apart from Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state who did not attend the Enugu meeting and was neither represented by his deputy, his counterparts: Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) were in attendance, while those of Abia and Anambra were represented by the deputy governors.