Southern Governors must provide places where Fulanis will graze their cattle – Prof Usman Yusuf

The Governors of the Southern part of Nigeria yesterday concluded plans to ban open grazing in their territories, as a way of curbing the menace of the Fulani herdsmen in their region after a successful meeting in Delta State.

The outcome of their meeting has stirred up a lot of conversations in the media space. 

The people from the Southern part of the Country lauded the decision of their Governors to ban open grazing by Fulani herdsmen,  why the people from the Northern part of Nigeria especially those from Fulani background are not pleased with the decision.

One of the elites from the North, Professor Usman Yusuf, who was the former Executive Secretary National Health Insurance Scheme, has said that the Southern Governors must first and foremost provide lands for the Fulani herdsmen to graze their cattle, before they can ban them in their territories for open grazing.

Speaking in an interview monitored on AIT this morning, Professor Usman said while reacting to the decision of the Southern Governors on open grazing: “Land use act have taken over this land. So all this crisis is about land. 

“Government needs to act responsibly and see to the security implications of this crisis and this can be solved not militarily.

“The Southern Governors must provide place where these Fulanis will graze their cattle,” he said.

Present at the Southern Governors Forum yesterday Asaba were Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa , Okezie Ikpeazu,  Abia State Governor, Willi Obiano of Anambra, Douye Diri of Beyelsa, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and David Umehi of Ebonyi.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was also in attendance along with Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State while Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom were represented by their deputies, Prof. Placcid Njoku and Mr Moses Ekpo.