Herders/farmers crisis: Benue belongs to Fulani by right of conquest – Don

The dean of Faculty of Humanities, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, Umar Labdo, on Thursday claimed that Benue State belongs to Fulani by right of conquest.

His claim came in the wake of the recent clash between herdsmen and farmers in the state, as well as the anti-grazing law enacted by the state government.

Speaking to newsmen in Kano State, Mr Labdo disclosed that half of the state is part of the Bauchi Emirate and the other half is part of the Adamawa Emirate, adding that no one had the right to expel Fulani from the state.

“Benue state belongs to the Fulani people by right of conquest. This is because half of the state is part of the Bauchi Emirate and the other half is part of the Adamawa Emirate.

“Benue is therefore part and parcel of the Sokoto Caliphate. So, no one has the right to expel the Fulani from Benue under any guise,” he declared.

Mr Labdo, who is the National Director, Fulbe Political Awareness Committee, FULPAC, also called on Fulani across Nigeria to participate fully in politics.

He alleged that failure to participate in politics was the reason why the Fulani were facing the current problems in the country.

Mr Labdo, a professor, called on Fulani to acquire and keep their voters card safely wherever they are and make sure they vote the right person that would care and protect their lives during elections.

“I call on my fellow Fulani, especially the wandering Fulani to make sure they acquire voters’ card. They should also make sure they keep their card safely and vote for the person that will care and protect them.

“I call on the Fulani to engage in block-voting. We have the highest population in Africa, so if we engage in block-voting, we will be voting the people of our choice,” he said.