Ban Fulani herdsmen or step down as governor, group dares Okowa
- A group in the Niger Delta has called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to address the issue of the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the state
- The group's call followed the recent killings of people in Delta and the continuous destruction of properties in the state
- The group is unhappy that despite the killings and destruction, the state governor has remained mute over the plight of his people
For allowing Fulani herdsmen to go free while killing people in Delta state, a group under the aegis of Indigenous People of Niger Delta has come hard on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, saying he either bans the herdsmen or step down as governor of Delta state.
The group which went furious over the killing spree of the Fulani herdsmen in the state, challenged Niger Delta governors to emulate their counterpart in Ekiti state, Governor Ayo Fayose, for his courage to ban the activities of herdsmen and liberate his people from fear of untimely death.
In a statement by the publicity secretary of the group, Dr. Harrison Ebelo, the group condemned the silence of the government over their activities, especially with the recent killings of six farmers in Abraka and Obiaruku area of the state.
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Recall that four farmers were reportedly murdered in Abraka last week Wednesday, January 4 just as two others were slain at Obiaruku on the same day, both in Delta state.
In the statement titled: "Abraka/Ubairuku Fulani Herdsmen Killings: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other Niger Delta governors should emulate Governor Ayo Fayose and stop acting like cowards", the group wondered why most governors of the region had remained silent over the incessant killing of innocent farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen, noting that the situation is both worrisome and unacceptable.
The statement read in part: "The Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND) has been thrown into mourning nationwide, with the news of the killing of our brothers and sisters in Abraka and Obiaruku by the bloodthirsty tools of islamization, popularly called Fulani herdsmen.
"This is not only unacceptable but a sacrilege by a group we have shown great deal of hospitality. It is an attempt to stoke insurrection in us and perhaps stretch our patience beyond its elastic limit.
"Under normal circumstance, the people are the government since power lies in their hands to decide who they will give the mantle of leadership.
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“However, and sadly, we are experiencing an era of governance where the mouth piece of the people becomes the underground perpetrator of cowardice.
"We have wondered endlessly why the Governor of Delta will continually keep mute on the issue of herdsmen invasion and incessant massacres/killings in the state. Where in the world, is animal life more valued than human life?
"It only seems that the people's life is not important to our politicians. We the Indigenous People of Niger Delta have taken this into heart as we mourn our victimized brothers and sisters whose fate has been decided by some illegitimate animals in human forms, from the northern caliphate.
"We, in our mourning mode hereby call on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to stop the cowardice and emulate Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state to ban the activities of Fulani herdsmen henceforth.
We are also calling on Mr. President to arrest all of them and prosecute them immediately and or otherwise expect us to do whatever it takes to protect our land”.
Source: Legit.ng
