The Senior political adviser to the Governor of Delta State, Chief Festus Ochonogor yesterday played host to a delegation from the Arewa Community in Delta North district on 22nd of June 2017.
The leader of the group, Alhaji Haruna Babanbacha thanked the good people of Delta state for all their hospitalities to the entire Arewa community resident in the state. He appreciated Delta State for accommodating the Arewa people since their ancestors settled in Delta North.
He disclosed that they will remain grateful, and condemned some activities of their Arewa brothers who engages themselves in ungodly acts, which is against their believe.
"We pray God for his continuous protection as we continue to trust in Delta State Government for her good will and protection especially on the numerous appointment the state have given our people", he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Festus Ochonogor in his speech thanked them for the visit..He tasked them to continue living in peace with Deltans and urged the leaders of the various group to help in sensitizing their people on the need to be law abiding, stating that the State Government has always provided enabling environment for them to operate, and that the State Government will be so glad to see them living in peace, operating in peace and desisting from any practice that will instigate crisis between them and the Indigenous people of Delta State.
Chief Ochonogor disclosed that the State Government is planning on how to permanently find a permanent solution to the problems between the farmers and herdsmen, in a way that will not be detrimental to any of the parties.
He condemned the constant clashes between farmers and herdsmen which have resulted in huge loss of lives and properties and appealed to all Stakeholders to come to a round table discussion, on tackling the problems.
More so, Chief Ochonogor stated that over 2,000 people were believed to have have lost their lives in conflicts between the herdsmen and different host communities across the federation in 2015 alone, which is lugubrious and pitiable because it could have been avoided.
He said that what has been before is that whenever a Fulani child or a young man’s grazing animals strays into other peoples farms, the farmer complains to the traditional leaders in that area and the Fulani man is brought to account to pay restitution and compensation and so on. This is what has been in practice earlier on, but the situation whereby some people takes laws onto their own hands is against what Deltans are known for.
He stated that Governor Okowa's administration will do everything possible to permanently bring a lasting solution to the herdsmen-Farmers menace
Finally, he appealed to the Arewa Community to call on their brothers who are into cattle rearing to avoid grazing close to people's farms which causes hazard to crops and informed them that the State Government will celebrate the Sallah with them all, and also ensure that measures are in place to grant them the necessary supports.
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