File: Ohanaeze
National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Uche Achi-Okpaga has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is “encouraging” killings in the country.
This was in reaction to comments by a Kano-based Prof. Umar Muhammad that the Fulani’s owned lands in the middle belt.
However, Uche Achi-Okpaga wondered “Where on earth does it happen that you coerce people’s heritage and give to an advertised adversary?”
As stated by him, “Ndigbo is passing through herculean crucibles under this regime and if this is another ploy to push us to the wall by unleashing the herdsmen on us, then we shall have no other option than to declare, to your tents oh Igbo.”
He said: “The South East Governors had obeyed our resolution by reaffirming it in their last meeting. Revisiting the concluded matter is tantamount to declaring war and civil unrest in the relatively peaceful Igbo land.
“It is needless going round the issue. Hitting the nail on the head is most apt in the prevailing circumstances. President Muhammadu Buhari is the one encouraging all these comments and killings in Nigeria.
“We are not running a parliamentary government. Here in Nigeria, it is presidential system where the president takes all the glory and, as well, the blames.
“A state government makes an anti-grazing law and a serving minister makes a public statement countering the existing law, which is accepted by the people it is meant to govern.
“It is not challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction and that minister is still enjoying the comfort of his office.”
As stated by him, “Nigerians are killed in tens and hundreds in a staccato and unbridled brigandage and Prof Umar and the likes are making all these insinuating and untowardly statements.
“Why would people be making this kind of unlawful and thought provoking statements in this digital age to the effect that herdsmen should graze their cattle even in churches and mosques and kill all in resistance and he is not questioned?
“One can only construe that the government is heaping sand round their waists and the sky is now their limit in making inflammatory comments.
“Fulani herdsmen are killing people in the villages with jihadist embellishments and we are told to pray, while on each occasion the president assures that the perpetrators will be brought to book. No book has been seen neither has anyone’s name seen on it.”