Tag: yoruba

The Igbo National Movement (INM) and Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) have rejected the proposed open grazing routes policy of the Federal Government.

 In separate statements  in Owerri, yesterday, they warned against its implementation in Igbo land.

The groups alleged that  the President Muhammadu Buhari-led  administration was on a land grabbing scheme and the target was to appropriate lands belonging to other ethnic nationalities  for the interest of Fulani herdsmen.

INM National Director,  Anthony Okolo, described  the grazing routes policy as a deliberate action only the Federal Government to encourage armed Fulani herdsmen to further perpetrate their heinous activities in the South East.

“INM categorically asserts that no grazing routes exist in Igboland. We urge the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to steer clear of extending this desperation to seize lands for Fulani herdsmen away from Igboland. In Igboland, open grazing of whatever domestic livestock is abhorred and in most communities’ sanctions are placed against owners of livestock found openly grazing or loitering in the community.

“Buhari’s desperation encourages brazen conducts by Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria. INM is deeply worried by the fact that the continuing efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to appropriate lands belonging to other indigenous ethnic nationalities in Nigeria for the benefit of Fulani herdsmen is directly encouraging the said Fulani herdsmen to act in audaciously brazen manners across Nigeria. Acting in manners to suggest they are above the laws and basically getting away with the commission of mass atrocities,” Okolo said.

President General of COSEYI, Goodluck Ibem, on his part condemned the policy saying Igbo youths were disappointed with the President for not concentrating on winning the fight against banditry and terrorism instead of creating more crisis in his grazing routes policy.

“We condemn in strongest terms the approval for review of 368 grazing routes with dispatch by President Muhammadu Buhari despite condemnations by Nigerians. This is an intentional show of wicked ignorance by the President whose interest should be what will bring peace and security.

“The President has not done anything to address the killings in Benue State and other states,  nor has he addressed the assassination attempt on the life of the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom by his Fulani kinsmen. But he is rather interested on how to acquire land through the back door for his Fulani kinsmen,” Ibem said.