The Primate and the Arch-Bishop and President of Sabbath Community Church Nigeria-Aboha Ohii in Owerri West LGA of Imo State, His Grace Most Rev. Andrew Ibemere (JP) has kicked against the idea of establishing cattle grazing colonies in the South-East, especially in Imo state.
Speaking to newsmen, Arch Bishop Ibemere said there is huge danger in establishing such cattle colonies in the South-East. He recalled how jihad started many years ago. According to him some herdsmen moved from Sudan to Nigeria with their cattle and were given a place to rear their cattle and afterwards they went back and returned for a jihad war.
Arch Bishop Ibemere said there are vast expanses of land in the North where cattle colonies can be built.
He urged the federal government to assist Fulani herdsmen by creating irrigation to irrigate the lands to in order achieve green vegetation where these cattles can be grazed instead of looking for colonies outside the North that would create problems and crisis.
Arch Bishop Ibemere equally condemned the recent killings in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and Kaduna states by herdsmen. He advised the authorities to avert unpleasant consequences that might result from it in the future.
According to him, the international community is watching Nigeria and they are not happy how innocent people are being killed because of cattle.
“In this 21st century, Nigeria should be concerned with positive things and not about cattle” he said
According to him, developed countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Spain, Israel and other countries have more cattle than Nigeria and nobody has ever had that people were killed while trying to graze their cattle.
He advised the Imo state government to instruct taxi operators plying within Owerri metropolis to carry only four passengers. According to him states such as Rivers State, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Abuja have succeeded in enforcing regulations for taxis and enforce their fare charges by carrying 4 persons only.
