…calls for true federalism
The apex and social cultural body of the Urhobo nation, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, has urged the federal government under president Muhammadu Buhari to abolish the proposed establishment of Fulani Radio station for herdsmen as that would cause more harm than good in the country.
It also noted that the next four years of Buhari led administration and state governors should improve the living condition of Nigerians economically.
In a statement signed by the President General of UPU, Olorogun Moses Oghenerume Taiga, laments that Nigerians are living in abject poverty following the continuous mayhem being caused by rampaging herdsmen.
The statement, “There is worsening insecurity in Nigeria, including Urhobo land and the condition is worsened by the activities of herdsmen by the massive destruction of our farm lands which is our mainstay of existence.
“Urhobo towns and villages, such as Abraka, Eku, Uwheru, Ethiope West, Ethiope East, Ughelli North, Ughelli South and many more communities, continue to be under siege by Fulani herdsmen.
The living condition of our people has deteriorated over the last few years and we hope the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and all the state Governors will spend the four year to work for the economic upliftment of Nigerians.
According to the statement, “The Urhobo Nation is appalled by the setting up of a Fulani Radio. Whatever the argument the government might put forward, this radio station is ill-timed and insensitive to the feelings of the Urhobo people and other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, whose portions of land, towns and villages that the Fulani herdsmen have forcefully taken over.
“UPU is no longer prepared to stand by and watch this desecration of our lands continue unabated.We reiterate our earlier call for these herdsmen to be brought to book.
According to him, “There is worsening insecurity in Nigeria, including Urhobo land. The conditions in Urhobo land is worsened by the activities of herdsmen by the massive destruction of our farms, which is our mainstay of existence.
“Urhobo towns and villages, such as Abraka, Eku, Uwheru, Ethiope West, Ethiope East, Ughelli North, Ughelli South and many more communities, continue to be under siege by Fulani herdsmen.
“The UPU is no longer prepared to stand by and watch this desecration of our lands continue unabated. We reiterate our earlier call for these herdsmen to be brought to book.
“The Urhobo Nation is appalled by the setting up of a Fulani Radio. Whatever the argument the government might put forward, this radio station is ill-timed and insensitive to the feelings of the Urhobo people and other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, whose portions of land, towns and villages that the Fulani herdsmen have forcefully taken over.
“UPU appreciates the need to promote the speaking of indigenous languages, but any government effort should be holistic or each ethnic nationality should be left on its own to preserve its culture and language. The selective promotion of the Fulani language has heightened tension among ethnic nationalities in the country and the project should be jettisoned at once.”
“The UPU reassures the Urhobo Nation that the UPU is working hard to ensure that there is peace and security in Urhobo land. We are a peace-loving people and the UPU will continue towards ensuring that peace reigns in Urhoboland.
“We however, called for true federalism because the current federal system will continue to keep Nigeria backward and ineffective.
“We reiterate our call for true federalism. While we believe in one Nigeria, the Nigerian federal system, as currently constituted, is not effective. The Urhobo Nation demands a true federalism where the component units will be in control of their resources and pay taxes to the Federal Government”. The statement added.
