The convener of G17 civil society/pressure group in Plateau, Hon. Dachung Bagos has raised alarm on the stakeholder consultation process currently ongoing in Plateau state.
In a press release to newsmen, Hon Bagos pointed out that many civil society and pressure groups have been left out of the consultation process and that only groups loyal to the government have been hand picked to go and endorse the policy.
He also queried the non-inclusion of farmers and community leaders in the circulated programme of consultation by government, saying: In view of the sensitive nature of the subject, we are of the strong believe that government needs to widen the scope of its consultations so as to adequately carry all stakeholders along. The usual elitist approach of selecting cronies and political patrons without due regard to the rural farming communities who will be affected directly by the positive or negative consequences of the policy will not suffice. This is because the breakdown in communal relationships between farmers and herdsmen is at the rural level and it is our considered opinion, that this is where government needs to win acceptance and trust for its policies.
He said, since calling off the protest of 13th June 2016, in line with agreement with security agencies (i.e., to give consultative dialogue a chance), that no dialogue, engagement or discussion has happened. And that he doubts if any has so far been planned because he remains unaware of such.
Speaking further, Bagos said, it would appear that government has cherry-picked a few loyalists who will endorse the grazing policy in order to give semblance of overall agreement across Plateau state. He wondered why the policy which started with the tag name “Grazing Reserves”, later changed to “Grazing Ranch” and now metamorphosing to “Agricultural policy”, all in a bid sell it to Plateau people.
He worried that such changes in name may be a deliberate attempt at masking the true colour of the policy from the Plateau population, he said the nomenclature of the policy is being changed from Grazing Reserves to something like agricultural reserve or farming village in a bid to get it accepted. Either way, our opinion is that we must not allow such a project in a conflict ravaged state like ours as it portends grave danger for the future. If government is not sure of what it is going into, it is safer to save the future now.
Furthermore, he called on the government to consider widening its scope of the consultations so that all relevant bodies can be represented.
In closing, Bagos said failure to allow fair consultation and dialogue may mean the G17 group will have to mobilise the youths again for a sit-in/Occupy Plateau protest until fair trading is done.
Full text of Hon Dachung Bagos’ press release is outlined below:
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You are aware of our agitation on the need for the Plateau State government to delist Plateau from the list of states said to have provided lands for the development of grazing reserves. That sole act led to our peaceful protest on 13th June, 2016 and its eventual suspension (for a week) following an intervention from security agencies, citing the need for extensive consultation with government.
Having waited on government to come clean on the matter, to no avail – we posit as follows:
1. In view of the sensitive nature of the subject, we are of the strong believe that government needs to widen the scope of its consultations so as to adequately carry all stakeholders along. The usual elitist approach of selecting cronies and political patrons without due regard to the rural farming communities who will be affected directly by the positive or negative consequences of the policy will not suffice. This is because the breakdown in communal relationships between farmers and herdsmen is at the rural level and it is our considered opinion, that this is where government needs to win acceptance and trust for its policies.
2. Despite the persistent calls on government to be forthcoming with information and details on the proposed policy, we have consistently witness or heard discordant tunes from government officials. Besides that, the concept which started with the name GRAZING Reserves, has now metamorphosed into GRAZING RANCHES or RANCHES and recently the governor, while addressing Plateau Indigenes in diaspora seemed to be talking about FARM settlement where both farmers and herdsmen will co-exist. The seeming confusion and lack of clarity leaves much to be desired from a government which prides itself on being guided by the principle of “participatory governance”, as it makes it difficult for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the debate and efforts at adopting a widely acceptable policy. There is today, clear misconceptions concerning the policies government wants to implement.
3. We have not in any way seen the Federal government policy document and our investigations revealed that no clear policy document has been developed to define how its implementation will guarantee the much needed peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen. What remains evident is governments desire to come up with state funded remedies to cushion the hardships nomads face without due consideration to the recent escalation in attacks by herdsmen on farming communities under the guise of cattle rustling and how it has negativity affected communal relationships. Suffice to say, that the parchments of information available, rather than points to a lasting solution to the age old conflict between farmers and herdsmen, seems more a move towards further degeneration of the crisis as farming communities view it as an attempt to reward those that have killed and displaced them from the homes while government watches without any success in apprehending those behind the dastardly acts.
4. Information from the grapevines suggests that the Plateau State government has already gone ahead with its plan on the grazing reserves and is presently on a window dressing engagement, similar to the IBB regimes IMF loan debates of the 1980s. Government is presently engaging stakeholders with a view to securing support for a decision it has already taken and will implement regardless of the outcome of the consultations it is currently carrying out. This has been confirmed from the pronouncements by the minister of Agriculture who clearly stated that the ministry wrote to states on the need to provide land for the development of grazing reserves and 11 states responded with Plateau state in the lead with a confirmation of 5,000 hectares of land.
5. The Governor’s interaction with Plateau diaspora citizens also reveals that 4000 NSCDC personnel have already been approved by President Buhari as part of security measures for the herdsmen in the said Ranches/reserves.
6. It also appears, that the state government is eager to benefit from the 2 Billion Naira funding loan for the project and is therefore abdicating its responsibility of ensuring that only policies that will benefit the vast majority of it’s citizens (who are predominantly farmers), as well as ensure their safety and survival in view of recent attacks by herdsmen across the country is considered .
7. Dear comrades, the nomenclature of the policy is being changed from Grazing Reserves to something like agricultural reserve or farming village in a bid to get it accepted. Either way, our opinion is that we must not allow such a project in a conflict ravaged state like ours as it portends grave danger for the future. If government is not sure of what it is going into, it is safer to save the future now.
We therefore call for proper consultation and a Referendum on this issue, away from a stage managed consultation or we will be left with no choice but to call citizens of like minds to once again “occupy Plateau” in a sit down peaceful protest till the right thing is done.
Thank you
Plateau Youth G17 peace and progressive forum
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