The Fulani Community in Nasarawa State has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as their sole candidate for the 2015 presidential elections and Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku for the governorship of Nasarawa State. Spokesman for the Fulani Community and Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini Adamu made their position known at a civic reception in Ubbe near Akwanga in honour of the Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku.

He complained that the Fulani in Nasarawa State were victims of inter-ethnic clashes and violence in recent times, but the State Government had never exhibited genuine commitment to ameliorating their plight and integrating them in the government.

The Fulani Community in Nasarawa State has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as their sole candidate for the 2015 presidential elections and Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku for the governorship of Nasarawa State. Spokesman for the Fulani Community and Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini Adamu made their position known at a civic reception in Ubbe near Akwanga in honour of the Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku.

He complained that the Fulani in Nasarawa State were victims of inter-ethnic clashes and violence in recent times, but the State Government had never exhibited genuine commitment to ameliorating their plight and integrating them in the government.

Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini said “worst of it all, the state government has not shown any serious concern and commitment to the welfare and means of livelihood of the Fulanis. Moreso, no distinguished son or personality of the state has identified with the cause of the people. Our people feel oppressed and marginalized in the scheme of affairs of the state”.

He told the gathering that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accommodated the Fulani and gave them opportunity to play significant and strategic roles in the affairs of the nation and emphasized that the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the party, Senator Walid Jibril and several others were prominent Fulani sons at the helm of the PDP.

Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini thanked the Information Minister for indentifying with the Fulani in their trying moment and supporting them with veterinary drugs and animal supplements as no any effective animal care services were extended to them by the Nasarawa State Government.
He therefore said ” I stand here to declare that he is eminently qualified to aspire, based on his wide experiences in governance, good management skills, people-oriented approach to issues and better understanding of the challenges of development of the state. Given the opportunity, Hon. Labaran Maku will do better and excellently govern this state well.”

Alhaji Mohammed pledged the resolve of the Fulani to actively participate in “rescuing Nasarawa State from bad leadership and crisis-prone approach to managing this young state that is in need of good governance and transformation.”

He said going by the antecedent and pedigree of Mr. Maku, the Fulanis were calling on him to step out and contest the governorship of Nasarawa State in order to give the state a new direction and return it to the path of peace, unity and progress.

In his response, Mr. Labaran Maku appreciated the Fulani in Nasarawa State for exhibiting overwhelming support for President Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections.
He stressed the need for peaceful co-existence and respect for constituted authority to create the enabling environment for development to thrive.

While drawing inspiration from the writings of the foremost Islamic scholar, Sheikh Usman Danfodio, who wrote that a nation could endure unbelief in the leadership but could not withstand injustice, Mr. Maku attributed the recurring violence in parts of the North to injustice and unfairness on the part of the leaders.

He said the North was united and peaceful in the First Republic because the political leader of the region, the Late Sir Ahmadu Bello was fair to all parts of the north and had judiciously utilized the resources of the region to empower the people and chart a new course for their human and industrial development.

He promised to work with all the stakeholders in Nasarawa State to achieve unity and lasting peace. “I have reassured them of my determination to work with them and all other stakeholders in Nasarawa State to make sure we return peace to this state. Communities have lost their livelihood; they have lost properties in this state in the last three years. All of us are now tired, we now want peace and I have assured them we will work for peace,” he stated.

Mr. Maku commended the Fulani for their immense contribution to the nation’s economy and assured that the Federal Government would continue to create the conducive environment for them to excel.

He said the President had expanded access to education for the children of the Fulani through the improved nomadic education and the establishment of 125 Almajiri schools in the North.

Mr. Maku mentioned the dredging of the River Niger, construction of river ports in Baro, Jamata, Oguta, and Onitsha, revival of the railways and the establishment of ten new universities in the north as some of the remarkable achievements of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
On their request for him to contest the governorship of Nasarawa State, Mr. Maku who appreciated the outpouring of support from the Fulani, said as a serving public official, the time was not yet ripe for him to make open declaration on his ambition as his was working to support the President in the implementation of the Transformation Agenda for the nation.

Leaders of the youths and women groups and the elders of the Fulani in Nasarawa State spoke on their resolve to support President Jonathan and Mr. Maku in the 2015 general elections.

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2015: Fulani Community in Nassarawa State Endorse Goodluck Jonathan