Read why this Fulani APC chieftain is against grazing routes
– Hon Yerima says he is against the proposed grazing route in the country
– He also said Niger Delta militants must challenge their leaders on why the region is under-developed
– He said Nigeria has to be patient to reap the fruit of diversification of economy
Hon Ahmed Yerima who is a member of the House of Representative representing Misau/Danbau Federal constituency has declared that his is against the allocation og grazing routes to Fulani herdsmen.
In an interview with Leadership, the lawmaker said that although he was a Fulani man, he insisted that Nigeria must develop using modern means.
When asked whether he supported grazing routes, he said:
“No, because the time has come for us to start scientific farming. I am a Fulani man who has cattle but I don’t move them from one place to another. We have to create ranches for them to be in a place. The world has moved forward and so Nigerians must join the world. We cannot be moving about with cattle from one place to another”
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On the issue of diversifying the economy, Yerima said it would take a while before the benefit is enjoyed.
“You cannot diversify the economy in a second, especially an economy like ours that has been abused over the years. The government will give a guideline on how the economy will go and others will follow. I think they have started that with the ongoing fight against corruption. But I think it is not enough, they need to do more. I believe the government will do its best by stabilizing the systems for investors to come in.”
He also condemned the activities of militants in the Niger Delta region and tasked them to challenge their leaders.
“What is happening in the Niger/delta is that there was no political will to put things in their place. Another thing is the poor performance of private sector which contributed to this. If there is one zone that has benefited from oil in Nigeria is the Niger/delta. They have the 13 per cent derivation, NDDC, Ministry of Niger/delta; the oil companies have also been compensating the host communities and the rest. So the question should be who has been siphoning these funds? How come the region in spite of all these funds has not developed? The avengers should start with their leaders first before facing the nation. I think government has tried for them.
They should also know that though Nigeria might lose some money due to government coffers, they are destroying their environment and their people. Their action will only suspend government efforts to diversify and then what? When you look at it, it doesn’t favour them. If they have issues, they should initiate or present their grievances through the right channel.”
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The lawmaker also blamed bad leadership for the problem the country was facing.
“Yes, more than anyone else because I know some of the things that have taken place in this country. I am familiar with the trend of events. The Nigerian economy is getting worst and this is because of the low price of oil. If nothing is done fast, very soon, we will soon lack a source of income. Nothing has been done in the last forty years because of bad leadership. They never thought of using the revenue we were getting on infrastructure or anything else. Everything was squandered and today, we are suffering for that mismanagement. We have gotten to a stage where if we don’t diversify, the economy will collapse. Government must stop talking and start acting now. We have to start investing in other parts of the economy that will yield returns fast.”
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