High Street

The government of Kogi State, its governor Yahaya Bello as well as the commissioners of justice and lands in that state, have been sued to court over their decision to provide land for the nomadic herdsmen- who in recent times have been in the news for killing dozens of Nigerians across the country. The case was brought against them by an aspirant for the House of Assembly in 2019, who is also a native of Kogi State, Sheyi Babaeko. In the lawsuit number HCH/08/2018, the plaintiff alleges that cattle grazing and colonies are private businesses and does not fall under the public interest of the citizens of Kogi State. It also seeks to find out if the governor indeed has the power to compulsorily acquire land for these herdsmen. Several Nigerians have kicked against the idea of government creating colonies for the herdsmen, saying that it should not be government’s business. However Kogi governor Yahaya Bello had declared that his state was ready to be the pioneer site for these ...

After all political permutations, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, on Friday formally opened up and rejected the proposal by the Federal Government for cattle colonies. He also described as “false, malicious and highly mischievous”, reports in the social media that he had carved out parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas for the creation of cattle colonies. Lalong is said to be a strong ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and had has never criticised his government or any of his wrong policies. Political pundits say his support for the President was a ploy to get favour and give him automatic ticket for reelection in the 2019 governorship election. Lalong in a Government House statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang, advised all peace-loving citizens of Plateau State to “discountenance such mischievous information” and gravitate towards issues of unity, rather than those that divide them. The statement reads: “The atte...