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FULANI RADIO: Govt must not be seen as a promoter of herdsmen killings, PCP warns

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Fulani group explains why herdsmen carry arms

More reactions trail the Federal Government announcement of its plan to create a Fulani radio for herdsmen. This is as the Peoples Coalition Party (PCP) advised that the plan be shelved.

According to the PCP, the move would be seen as promoting herdsmen killings, terrorism, banditry and the vandalisation of properties and homes of law abiding citizens.

In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Anthony Harmattan, on Saturday in Abuja, the party urged the government to concentrate on creating employment for all youths in the country.

The statement reads: “We vehemently call on the Federal Government to quickly shelve it’s planned creation of herdsmen radio station in the country.

READ ALSO: CAN, SMBL question motive behind FG plans for herdsmen radio station

“Most importantly, our government must avoid being seen as a promoter of herdsmen Killings, defender of terrorism, banditry and the vandalisation of properties and homes of law abiding citizens of Nigeria.

“We call on the Federal Government to concentrate their efforts and developmental focus towards creating jobs for all active youths in the country in order to reduce the menace of kidnappings, killings and armed robbery now ravaging every parts of the country.

“Our passionate call also goes to all aggrieved parties in the last general election to resolve to put the country first by peacefully engaging themselves in the tribunals and not attempting to overheat the polity.

“Finally, we appeal to the government and the ruling party, the APC to embrace a reconciliatory posture by ensuring that all stakeholders are considered in an inclusive government to foster development, peace, progress, fairness, equity and justice to all. Nigeria needs absolute unity at this time in our history.”

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had on Wednesday said the Federal Government had acquired an Amplitude Modulation broadcast radio licence, frequency 720KHz, for herdsmen as part of efforts to end the perennial farmers-herders clashes.

“The radio service will serve as a vehicle for social mobilisation and education, in addition to interactive radio instruction methodology that will be adopted to reach the very hard-to-reach segment of our target population,” he had noted.

The announcement has however been greeted with a wide range of condemnations.

Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum cautioned the Federal Government not to proceed with its plan to set up a radio station for Fulani herdsmen, warning that the station would become a weapon for spreading hateful propaganda against other nationalities.

Also, three senior lawyers, Femi Falana, Ladi Rotimi-Williams and Monday Onyekachi Ubani, all ruled the decision illegal, stating that there was no evidence of due process in sourcing and securing public fund for the project.

Similarly, an NGO, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative (ADAPHAI) had slammed President Muhammadu Buhari claiming the move is draging Nigeria to political Armageddon.

It said the development has exposed President Buhari as nothing but an ethnic bigot and unrepentant chauvinist with less requisite qualities of national leader.

Amidst the wave of condemnation, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association, however described the initiative as a “positive” step in the right direction.

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