Please send your children, wards to school – Presidency appeals to Fulani Herdsmen

The Presidency has appealed to Fulani herdsmen in the country to send their children to school to enable their wards compete with other Nigerians in the future.

The Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof. Rufai Alkali said this in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving in audience the National Executives and Elders of the Myetti Allah Socio-cultural Organisation of Nigeria who paid him a visit, according to report from The Punch

Alkali stressed the need for the herdsmen to take the issue of education of their children and wards very serious, saying that the present administration had invested heavily more than any administration on education.

He said because of this, the herdsmen should make good use of the what he described as a rear opportunity to their advantage .

He said, “Very important is the issue of education. You should get your children and yourselves educated. Education is the foundation of civilisation and remains the best tool for liberation.

“It can make a lot of difference in your relationships and how you rear your cattle. If you have Doctors, engineers and educated people, you can improve tremendously. What this means is that Transformation should start in our own homes.”

also asked them to live in peace with their host communities. Alkali said this was necessary as the nation prepares for the 2015 general election.

He added that they should run away from all forms of conflict that could mar the peaceful conduct of the general elections

According to him, “I call on you, the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and your associates to exercise even greater patience in handling conflicts with your host communities.

“Government is concerned that if there is anything, the best thing is not to retaliate but to follow government channels of laying down complaints and seeking for redress.

“Since we don’t have enough sedentary cattle management process, but mainly normadic, we also plead with farmers to work closely with you just the way we want you to equally exercise patience with them all our people who are either Housa Fulani or Tiv, you are all friends, please leave in peace.

“Since you say you have a large heart, continue having that large heart.”

On their desire support for President Jonathan to contest next year’s election, Alkali said, “If you say you want to support Mr. President, please, obtain your voter cards and hold it jealously, even more than you hold your cows and during elections, you come out and vote for Mr. President and the PDP.