Federal lawmaker says Fulani herdsmen deserve funds, respect, protection like Nigerians in Alaba, Onitsha

Fulani herdsmen are Nigerians, and they deserve government protection and support anywhere they are within the country.

Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial district and former governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, said government owes it a duty to treat herdsmen the other citizens were being treated.

He spoke at a media parley with Senate Press Corps in Abuja on Monday, saying that the hullabaloo about herders in Nigeria are unnecessary.

According to him, herders because of their calling don’t enjoy infrastructure like good road, electricity, pipe borne water, has his yet another excuse.

“I believe as governors, as members of the executive, operating in the different tier of government, they have a constitutional responsibility, the constitution upon which they take an oath of office.

He insisted every Nigerian has a right of free movement, and that every Nigerian has a right to pursue a legitimate business.

“Right of association is enshrined in the constitution. You cannot under any pretence take away these rights,” he said.

“This government has a duty like the way it’s treating businessmen in Alaba, Onitsha, Kano, and Port Harcourt to treat herdsmen too because they are Nigerians.

“These provisions are public funds. They are not from the private fund of any governor or senator. The funds are from the treasury of this country and every Nigerian has a stake in that treasury.

“So the government has a duty to find a wherewithal to make it possible for herdsmen not to go astray in the course of pursuing his legitimate duty,” he said