By Ayo Kehinde
The Chairman, South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has openly made known the geo-political zone’s stand on the demand by Miyetti Allah to set up Fulani Vigilante in South East Region Nigeria.
The governor in a statement said the demand is unacceptable even as he finds it a joke. He said no governor in the South- east would accede to such request including the setting up cattle colony or cattle ranch.
He pledged the support for the security of life and property of those of Fulani extraction who were born and bred in his state and other South-east states and have been living there peacefully.
He also called on the people of the zone to mind their language and address issues and their elected leaders with respect.
Gov Umahi’s statement is reproduced below:
“I find it extremely strange for anybody to think that none locals in any part of the country including south east could be allowed to form vigilante outfit.
“The Miyetti group may have made that suggestion which I believe will never mean to form a vigilante in South east. Which ever is the meaning, no governor will allow that. South east governors have their local vigilantes working with security agencies.
Any such demand by Miyetti group is a joke and not acceptable. Governors of south east are doing their best and we have no problems receiving insults from our people. Is the price for leadership.
The important thing to us is the safety and well-being of our people. OPC and other pressure groups may not have found it fashionable to be insulting their leaders even when their leaders may not be saints.
Our youths will be working against the interest of our people when the only job they do is to take on their leaders especially those who do not pay them dues especially Abia and Ebonyi governors.
My task is to develop Ebonyi State, contribute in rebuilding south -east and Nigeria. My calling is not to insults others for me to do these. Have we been fairly treated, No. Can we solve the problem by hate speeches, for me No .
No body no matter the level of pretext can change my style of peaceful leadership. Ebonyi in particular has suffered so much even in the context of south -east. We believe that we do not need hate speeches as a strategy to solve our problems.
“Finally, no Miyetti vigilante in south- east, no cattle ranch or colony but we must live peacefully with herdsmen that do not destroy our farm land especially those that were born here and have lived peacefully with us. All south east governors are together in this position.”
