Governors of 19 Northern States have kicked against calling all Fulani herdsmen criminals insisting that perpetrators of crimes around the country could not be Fulani people.
“We want to unequivocally condemn the recent killings in Enugu and other parts of the country. But we equally condemn the politicisation or permit me, the ‘ethinicisation’ of the whole crisis. It goes beyond Fulani. If anything happens, they say Fulani herdsmen; to me it is an insult.
Speaking to news men shortly after a close door meeting in Kaduna today, Friday, Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima said, condemned the recent attacks in Enugu and other parts of the country, but said that those behind the attacks are not Fulani people.
“Kidnapping in this country originated in the South-east, why don’t they call Igbo kidnappers? We have a great national challenge and we want to call on all and sundry to come and let us solve our common challenges as a people. The blood of paternity that binds us together supersedes whatever differences that might divide us.”
While condemning the Agatu killings, the NSGF Chairman appealed media practitioners to avoid sensationalism and emphasize issues that bind the country Nigerians together.
On the legacies of the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Governor Shettima said they were doing everything possible to revive the New Nigerian Newspapers and Arewa Textile Limited. [myad]
