Afenifere group demands end to cattle rearing in Yorubaland

The Pan socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the Federal Government to abolish nomadic system of cattle rearing in order to stop the criminality allegedly being perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in the rural communities of Yorubaland.

This was contained in a communique on Tuesday at the end of the monthly meeting of the organisation held at the residence of its leader, Pa Rueben Fasonranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.


In the communique read by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere decried the state of insecurity in the country, particularly, the recent kidnapping of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Chief Olu Falae, last week.

Describing the kidnap of Falae as shameful, insensitive and disrespect to the Yoruba race, the group warned that if the Federal Government failed to stop the herdsmen from attacking the Yoruba people, the people of the South-West might have to defend themselves.

It added, “Our people are everywhere in the country and they don’t destroy the business of their hosts. Why should the Fulani people be destroying our own business?. Our demand is that the Federal Government should arrest the perpetrators and prosecute them. Youruba people will not tolerate this any longer.

“So, while we await the arrest of the criminals, cattle rearing should be stopped in Yorubaland. I read Chief Olu Falae told the Commissioner of Police that government should do something urgently to stop this thing because if such a thing is not done, it will be encouraging self-help; people will defend themselves. And we agree totally with him.”

While reminding the President to implement the recommendations of the report of the 2014 National Conference, Afenifere said the report contained the abolition of nomadic system of cattle rearing, which it described as primitive, and asked the government should rather adopt ranching cattle rearing system.

“The meeting noted that in 2014 National Conference, to which Chief Olu Falae led the Yoruba delegation, extensively discussed this matter of nomadic cattle rearing and the Conference resolved that it should be stopped and instead have ranches for cattle business.”

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REVEALED: See full list of 83 senators who passed vote of confidence on Saraki

As the 8th Senate, on Tuesday, resumed from its 4th recess in 110 days, no fewer than 83 Senators passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the embattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, amidst rowdy session.

Despite Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged corrupt practices and false declaration of assets, he initially got the backing of 84 of his colleagues. But as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Babajide Omowarare (APC-Osun East), backed out, 83 Senators threw their weight behind Saraki.

The proposal titled: “Vote of Confidence on Principal Officers of the Senate,” in pursuant to Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Order 2015, had the names of 48 Senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 35 from the majority All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator David Umaru (APC-Niger East), was the one who read the Vote Of Confidence motion on the floor of the Red Chamber.

See the full list:


1. Sen. David Umaru

2. Sen. Mohammed A. Ndume

3. Sen. Godswill Akpabio

4. Sen. Biodun Olujimi

5. Sen. Malam A. Wakil

6. Sen. Isah Hamma Misau

7. Sen. Emmanuel I. Paulker

8. Sen. Ogola Foster

9. Sen. Gershom H. Bassey

10. Sen. James Manager

11. Sen. Babajide Omowarare (Backed out)

12. Sen. Ahmadu Abubakar M.

13. Sen. Joshua M. Lidani

14. Sen. Achonu A. Nneji

15. Sen. Shehu Sanni

16. Sen. Salihu H. Egye

17. Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa

18. Sen. Mohammed S. Ohiare

19. Sen. Philip Aruwa Gyunka

20. Sen. Abdullahi Adamu

21. Sen. Samuel N. Anyanwu

22. Sen. George T. Sekibo

23. Sen. Monsurat J.A. Sunmonu

24. Sen. Jeremiah T. Useni

25. Sen. Ogba Joseph Obinna

26. Sen. Aliyu S. Abdullahi

27. Sen. Sunny Ogbuoji

28. Sen. Gilbert Nnaji

29. Sen. Bala IBN Na’allah

30. Sen. Philip Tanimu Aduda

31. Sen. Duro Samuel Faseyi

32. Sen. Kabiru Gaya

33. Sen. Muhammad Aliero

34. Sen. Bukar A. Ibrahim, CON

35. Sen. Abubakar Kyari

36. Sen. Rose Okoji Oko

37. Sen. Osinachukwu I. Ideozu

38. Sen. Matthew A. Urhoghide

39. Sen. Fatimat O Raji-Rasaki

40. Sen. Tijani Yahaya Kaura

41. Sen. Sabo Mohammed

42. Sen. Danjuma Laáh

43. Sen. Mohammed S. Lafiagi

44. Sen. Dino Melaye

45. Sen. Abdulrahman Abubakar

46. Sen. Bassey A. Akpan

47. Sen. Olanrewaju A. Tejuoso

48. Sen. Buruji Kashamu

49. Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe

50. Sen. Samuel O. Egwu

51. Sen. David A.B. Mark\

52. Sen. Aliyu M. Wamakko.

53. Sen. Marafa Bachir Abba

54. Sen. Mohammed Hassan

55. Sen. Utazi G. Chukwuka

56. Sen. Francis Alimikhena

57. Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha

58. Sen. Joshua Chibi Dariye

59. Sen. Uche L. Ekwunife

60. Sen. Murray-Bruce Ben

61. Sen. Binta Masi Garba

62. Sen. Jang Jonah David

63. Sen. Ighoyota Amori

64. Sen. Ibrahim A. Gobir

65. Sen. Mohammed Goje, CON

66. Sen. Ahmed Rufa’i Sani

67. Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi

68. Sen. Muhammad U. Shitu

69. Sen. Andy E. Ubah

70. Sen. Nelson A. Effiong

71. Sen. Rafiu Adedayo Ibrahim

72. Sen. Abdul A.M. Nyako

73. Sen. Theodore A. Orji

74. Sen. Olaka Johnson Nwogu

75. Sen. Abubakar S. Danladi

76. Sen. Yele Omogunwa

77. Sen. Stella Adaeze Oduah

78. Sen. Hope O. Uzodinma

79. Sen. John Owah Enoh

80. Sen. Peter Nwaboshi

81. Sen. Clifford A. Ordia

82. Sen. Donald Alasoadura

83. Sen. Mustapha Sani

84. Sen. Gbolahan Dada

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Buhari is a Fulani man, he is sympathetic towards Fulani herdsmen - Femi Fani-Kayode

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, says President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a Fulani man, is sympathetic towards Fulani herdsmen.

The former minister said this in a Facebook post titled, ‘Herdsmen from hell’ while reacting to the abduction of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, by suspected Fulani herdsmen.


Fani-Kayode said Buhari had in the past referred to Fulani herdsmen as ‘my people’. He, therefore, argued that he was not surprised that Fulani herdsmen were hardly arrested despite their many acts of violence.

He said, “In the last few years the Fulani herdsmen have attacked, ravaged and pillaged many rural communities south of the River Niger and they have slaughtered and raped thousands of innocent people in the South-South, the South-East and the South-West.

“We recall how, after a violent clash between them and some Yoruba farmers in Oyo State in 2000, General Buhari (as he then was) led a strong delegation of northern leaders to see the late Governor of Oyo State, Lam Adeshina. On arrival, Buhari put the question to him: ‘Why are your people killing my people?’ This was a classic case of a Freudian slip.

“The Bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The general had spoken his mind. Governor Adeshina was shocked with disbelief and he responded by telling Buhari that he was rather surprised that a former Head of State would refer to one ethnic group as his people while referring to another as someone else’s.”

Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesperson for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, said Buhari had never shown concern for the plight of the people of the South.

He said this was why it took Buhari 48 hours to react to Falae’s kidnap.

Fani-Kayode said it was possible that Buhari knew those behind the abduction Falae because the herdsmen released Falae 24 hours after the presidency condemned the abduction. He noted that no one had since been arrested for Falae’s kidnap.

He added, “Another curious twist to the tale is the fact that it took the Buhari administration two days to make any formal announcement on Falae’s abduction and just the day after they (Presidency) finally did so, the elder statesman was suddenly released.

“The question is this: who is pulling the strings from behind the scenes and who is attempting to test our resolve and test the waters?”

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain said Falae’s claim that the Fulani herdsmen had links with Boko Haram should not be ignored.

He said the Fulani herdsmen were a security threat and could easily cause crisis in the South-West having populated the entire region under the guise of selling cattle.

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