By Michael Agbaji
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, has said that all Nigerians irrespective of their states of origins should be allowed to live in any part of the country they wish without any hindrance.
Speaking during a debate on a Bill for an act to Establish National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission for the Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches throughout Nigeria sponsored by Sen Titus Tartenger Zam (Benue North West), he said Nigerians cannot be stopped from living, trading and working in any part of the country.
” There is a snag in this bill, there is a problem because you cannot stop any Nigerian from living in any area that he so wishes. The relevant section of the constitution has been read. I saw something just a few days ago: Senator Natasha visited a Fulani settlement in her senatorial zone. Those people do not have any home except that place. They have been there for so long. They have been part and parcel of that society.
Now, to tell them to move to their state of origin, where is their state of Origin?,” he said.
Stressing the need for all especially political leaders to encourage and support people to live in any part of the country as guaranteed by the constitution, he said asking herders to return to their states of origins was unconstitutional.
” Now, for us as political leaders, I would like you to look at that. Who is the current Senator of FCT? She is a Yoruba native, but she has won the election here. Nobody told her to return to her state. I won my first election in Tarauni Federal Constituency to the House of Representatives in 1999 from Kano Central, but I am from Kano North. Nobody told me to go back to Kano North, so why do we now tell herders to go back to their states of Origin?,” he said.
While urging that the bill be stepped down, he said; ” My friend Zam, understand that this is not consonant with our constitution; your bill is good. I like this bill, but this aspect should be removed. We should remove it. I advise my friend Senator Zam to stand this bill down for a consultation, for better drafting, so that it goes in consonant with our constitution.
” Mr President, I will tell you some of these Fulanis; if you ask them where is their state of origin, they have even forgotten; they look at themselves as Nigerians. We should address the issue to reflect wherever someone is, it’s his place, and he can do his business there. So, Mr President, I advise this bill to be stepped down for further consultation.”
