South-East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) on Sunday rejected the proposal by the Federal Government to establish cattle ranches in some states in the country to solve the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
The forum also condemned the recent killings in Plateau State linked to Fulani herdsmen.
Dave Umahi, the Chairman of the forum and Ebonyi State governor, stated their position at Enugu Government House while briefing journalists after a meeting of the governors and other critical stakeholders in the zone.
Reading the communiqué, Umahi noted that the South-East does not have land mass and therefore was not disposed to allocating any part of its limited land for establishment of cattle ranches.
According to Umahi, the South-East governors commiserated with the governor of Plateau State and his people for the recent killings in the state.
He stated further: “We condemn the killings and join other regions to demand justice for the people of Plateau State.
“South East governors have noticed increased challenges in the movement of herdsmen from state and region to another with resultant effect of massive destruction of farmlands and attendant clashes with farmers.
“South East governors have been spending huge funds in settling farmers whose farms and crops are destroyed. We, therefore, request for emergency meeting with South-East and federal security chiefs, farmers and herdsmen to stop the movements and prevent clashes,” Umahi said.
The Ebonyi helmsman said Ndigbo stand on restructuring of the Nigeria and template were presented to the forum by Ohanaeze president, based on the resolutions arising from the Awka enlarged Igbo meeting.
He said the forum thanked Ohanaeze Ndigbo for a job well done and reiterated its earlier stand that restructuring is the way to move Nigeria forward.
