Wakilin waka initiates peace move between herders, host communities
Niger State Ministry of Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs in collaboration with the office of Wakilin Waka of Minna emirate has initiated a peace move through stakeholders engagement to find lasting solution to the incessant crisis between the the Nomadic pastoralists and their host communities in Niger East senatorial district (zone B) of the state.
The stakeholders engagement which took place at the Minna Emir’s palace on Saturday, under the theme, “Join hands with our communities in reviving lost relationship,” was at the instance of the office of the Wakilin Waka of Minna emirate and supported by the state ministry of Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs.
The permanent secretary of the state ministry of Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, Salihu Mohammed Alfa said the creation of the ministry by the state Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago is aiding the peace building among Fulani herders and their host farming communities, as well as the economic prosperity of their respective communities.
He said without peace there would be no development, adding that instead of taking guns and cutlasses or sticks when there is misunderstanding they should take the matter to the village or district heads. He also warned that they should not take matters to the police because it might worsen it.
The permanent secretary who represented the commissioner of the ministry, Hon. Umar Sanda Rebe appreciated the Governor for creating the ministry and also applauded the conveners of the peace building initiative.
In her address at the event, the Director, Abdulsalam Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development Studies, Dr. Diamond P. Nebechukwu stressed the importance of peace, saying without peace there would be no development and there would be no safety and security.
She urged members of the public to always seek and promote peace in their respective communities so that they can go about their daily affairs and fend for their families without fear, adding once there is conflict people should should not take laws into their hands but should always resolve it amicably looking at the past relationship that have existed
The Chairman of Chanchaga local government council, Hon. Aminu Yakubu Ladan observed that he grew up seeing his grandparents and parents living peacefully and coexisting with the Fulanis in their community, but that he doesn’t know what has happened that the relationship has turned sour.
He stressed the need to give peace a chance as there is no way the Fulanis and Gbagyis would live in isolation, adding that their was need to sensitize the farming communities to always leave a route where the Fulanis can easily pass through with their cattles for grazing without resulting to entering people’s farms.
Salihu Garba is the Wakilin Samarin Minna and represented the Emir of Minna at the event. He said the Emir has always emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence between the Fulanis and the Gbagyis, saying they are all sons and daughters of the Emirate.
He observed that violence had never in history solve crisis, rather he said they should embrace dialogue whenever there is misunderstanding instead of taking laws into their hands, adding that peaceful coexistence is the trademark of the Emirate which the Emir has always emphasized. He also appreciated the initiators of the event.
Similarly, the Ardon Fulanin Paiko, Alhaji Hussaini Yusuf Bosso who spoke on behalf of the Fulanis said the event is a welcome development, adding that they have been sensitizing their people on the need for peaceful coexistence with their host communities, and that they will continue to do so.
He said the Fulanis does not take cattles for grazing in the night, adding any Fulani who does that is a bad egg among them. He observed that farmers and herders are one and what they need was understanding, adding that with understanding there would be no problem.
Earlier in his remarks, the Wakilin Waka of Minna emirate, Abdullahi Salihu Bawa (ASB) said the stakeholders engagement was necessitated by series of complaints from his fans who expressed concerns over the sour relationship between the Fulani herders and their host farming communities.
He said whenever he goes to perform in villages people usually expressed their concerns to him, which he thought about it and came up with the idea of bringing the stakeholders together to discuss and build peace, expressing satisfaction with the turn out and contribution of the participants.
“I want to achieve peace between the Fulani herders and the farmers. I want to see them coexisting and doing things together as it use to be in the past,” said the initiator of the event, Salihu Bawa.
The treasurer of Gbogu Gbokun, Musa Jibrin Madallah who spoke on behalf of the Gbagyis, expressed happiness with the peace initiative and applauded the organizers, saying anyone who bring peace among two people has reward from God and declear their support to the peace initiative.
