By Ovie Okpare
Tension on Sunday mounts in Asaba, the Delta State capital, after residents discovered a threat letter giving GovernormIfeanyi Okowa a 72-hour ultimatum to withdraw his support for the ban on open grazing or risk the state capital being attacked.
The letter titled “Fulani Jihadist Warning: An Open Message Of 2 Paragraphs To Delta State” was said to have been posted in strategic locations in the state capital including at the fence of the Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel at Infant Jesus Road in Asaba.
The letter is coming weeks after governors of the 17 southern states at its meeting in Asaba recently banned open grazing of cattle in the region.
The ban was rejected by the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, who claimed the decision of the governors violates the rights of herdsmen to free movement.
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President Muhammadu Buhari also rejected the position of the governors and ordered for the restoration of the grazing routes across the country in an interview on Friday.
But in the unsigned letter, it particularly threatened that Fulani Jihadist fighters will attack Asaba and Governor Okowa’s Agbor Town if he failed to withdraw his support for the ban open grazing in the state.
The letter reads, “This is to inform Delta state that the Fulani’s of Usman dan fodio leadership, shall do everything it can to uphold the legacy of our heritage of open grazing for we are nomadic people from origination and shall never negotiate the ownership of Nigeria and West Africa and Sub-Sahara.
“We hereby demand the governor of Delta state to immediately withdraw is early stand for the call to barn open grazing in 17 regions in not less than 72hours from the above date and also, withdraw his position as the leading voice for the governors, as no occurrence we don’t have the first-hand information, even before the hosting of the South-south. South-east and South-south governors meeting in Asaba.
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“Failure to adhere to this demand for been the host of the 17 governors, Delta state, most likely the city of Asaba and Agbor, shall encounter severe consequences than that of Bornu, Kebbi, Kastina, Kaduna, Enugu, Benue, Oyo and many more that will not respect the Fulani’s heritage, as we take responsibility for the detonate explosive uncovered in the state capital secretariat, which should serve as warning to the Delta state government for what is to come, should the governor fail to abide to our demand.
“We highly advice all Fulani’s and Northermers, including the security personnel to live Delta state as soon as possible for the wind of our action is now present in the land, for failure of the governor to adhere to our call, this shall live us with no choice.”
Meanwhile, the Delta State Government and security agencies are yet to respond to the threat at the time of filing this report.
See letter below:
Deltans have the where with all to counter any foolish Fulani invasion.But OKOWA must wake up from his slumber.Make a wake up call to all South/South states GOVRRNORS.Sensitize all militant groups,arm them to teeth.Unite them,in readiness.This,was lacking,reason why they were in action in Abraka,Anioma Oben in Delta state.In consonance defensive reaction from S/S,SE,SW and Middle Belth,obvious a message will been sent to this killer Fulani/Boko Haram jihadist.This is the only language they understand.History had confirmed this.The surviving state of Israel has confirmed this.Governors elect don’t allow your citizens to be slaughtered like chickens.Almighty God will not forgive you and your generations yet unborn IJN.WAKE UP!!!.
The Fulani Threat on Delta Governor is both Misguided and Unachievable.
Ban on Open Grazing of Cattle in the Southern States was made by the 17 Governors of Southern Nigeria.
It was a BI-PARTISAN Decision involving both the Governing Party of the President and the Opposition Party.
On no account should the Presidency forget that Nigeria is a Federal Democracy,
Each State Governor has a SWORN OATH to protect the Interests of their State.
Open Cattle Grazing is deemed detrimental to the Interest of their States.
My fellow Deltan’s please let is wake up from our slumber Because we don’t know the actual time this hooligans will mount an attack to our family