The Southwest leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, rose from an emergency meeting on sunday expressing concern about the state of the nation, particularly the serious security challenges facing the country.
At the meeting held at the State House Marina, Lagos the APC South West Leaders also denounce Sunday Igboho and others agitating for Yoruba Nation while endorsing the Southern Governors ‘ ban on open grazing.
National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu convened the meeting. Others at the meeting were former Interim Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor Dapo Abiodun, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Pius Akinyelure, among others.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by Akande, the Southwest leaders agreed that ban on open grazing in the south was the right way to curb farmers-herders clash.
The leaders urged the Federal Government to provide, through the CBN, short, medium and long term financing for states and those who might wish to set up ranches as part of the agricultural sustainability policy.
The Leaders commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the military authorities, families of the Chief of Army Staff and other officers who died, and indeed the entire nation over last Friday’s tragic plane crash in Kaduna.
They expressed their strong opposition to separatist agitations and hate speeches, urging those indulging in such to desist forthwith, renewing their belief in the unity, stability and sustainability of the country.
The APC leaders said they endorsed the position of the Southern Governors taken at their May 11, 2021 summit in Asaba, Delta State, regarding ranching.
“We do so because such a decision will lessen tensions between farmers and herders while also helping the long-term economic viability of both the farming and herding communities. We are mindful of the short-term dislocation this might cause but are also mindful that this position is in the best interests of all parties concerned.
“We, therefore, recommend that the federal and state governments cooperate fully with each other to enact the necessary measures to encourage this more effective and modern method of cattle-rearing so that both farmers and herders can pursue their livelihoods with greater productivity and in a more cooperative relationship that minimizes the friction between these two important pillars of our agricultural economy,” they said.
The communique noted with significant concern the security situation in the country, saying that terrorism and violent criminality threatened many areas, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of too many innocent and peace-loving Nigerians.
“While mindful of the resource and other constraints facing the nation, we urge the federal government to continue to make the necessary expenditures and allocate sufficient resources to enable the military and security agencies to tackle the difficult security challenges confronting us.
“For Nigeria to overcome these challenges, we must do so with unity of purpose and action. The desire for peace and the chance for a prosperous and just society is universal and transcends all regional, religious or ethnic divisions. Sadly, many public figures have made statements that spark division and undermine the needed unity of purpose.
“We urge government at all levels, security agencies, and public leaders across the country to do everything possible to prevent tension so that we sustain the necessary unity to defeat these challenges to our national security. All responsible Nigerians must speak and act in a manner that strengthens our common cause against these common threats to our collective peace, justice and development,” they added.
The Southwest APC leaders restated their abhorrence of violence as a means to achieve either political or economic power and influence.
“We strongly condemn violence of any form in any part of the country, regardless of ethnic or regional identity of the perpetrators of the violence or of the victims. Government must do all it can to protect potential victims and to assist those who have previously been victimized by terrorism or widespread banditry.
“We hold to the view that true federalism where more power and resources are allocated to the states will be an essential part in strengthening society and improving democratic governance so that we beat the present challenges but also engender durable peace and security.
“True federalism and the reallocation of resources and authority that comes with it will empower the states to solve localized issues before they spread and transform into national ones. In addition to mitigating political competition for control of the national government, greater federalism will empower grassroots economic development and political reforms that will stand as bulwarks against the terrorism and criminality now experienced in too many parts of the nation. A hallmark of this enhanced federalism will be the establishment of state police forces,” they stated.
They thanked traditional rulers for their important role in the polity and appealed to them to keep intervening to maintain peace and stability.
