INSECURITY: NORTHERN GOVERNORS TO MEET ON THURSDAY OVER NYAKO’S LETTER

The Northern Governors’ Forum will meet on Thursday, to discuss a letter written by Murtala Nyako, the Adamawa state governor, on th einsecurity in the North.

The Governor of Niger state and the orums Chairman, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, stated this on Monday in Minna, that the Forum had recieved Nyako’s memo.

This came to the fore on Monday as there were indications that the northern governors were divided on the letter.

Nyako, in a letter to the forum, dated April 16, 2014, had alleged that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was committing genocide against the North.

But the Presidency, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, on Saturday said that Nyako’s letter was a sad betrayal of trust by a major beneficiary of the Nigerian nation.

The Adamawa State governor however hit back at the Presidency on Monday, saying that it was confused and incompetent.

Aliyu added that the meeting, which is aimed at finding lasting solutions to the incessant crises between herdsmen and farmers in the region, would be attended by the Miyetti Allah Fulani Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

The governor said members of the forum and leaders of the Miyetti Allah Fulani Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria would fashion out strategies to address the disturbing state of insecurity in the region.

The meeting is also expected to make a case for proper demarcation of grazing fields for herdsmen and the adoption of a comprehensive pastoral development programme to reduce constant friction between farmers and herdsmen especially in the Northern part of the country.

Meanwhile, investigations showed that the letter written by Nyako has divided the northern governors with some of them backing their Adamawa State counterpart, while others are supporting President Goodluck Jonathan.

SOURCE: PUNCH