As many Fulani Associations in the State and Nigeria at large continue to emerge, Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has put the heads of Leadership of Fulani to form a ‘Coalition of Fulani Associations’, an association that will focus on the core mandate of establishing so many associations.
In his effort to bring to an end the banditry that is highly linked to the ugly behaviour of some Fulani Herdsmen, the Governor asked them to come down to the State and take home in any of the grazing reserves endowed in Kano.
Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who hails from the traditional Fulani way of life, made it compulsory for him to give back to his community for years before becoming the Governor of Kano State.
In an interview with Daily News 24‘s Digital Journalist, Umar Idris Shuaibu, Governor Ganduje assured the Coalition of Fulani Associations his total commitment to improving Fulani’s traditional setting to the modern system to benefit themselves and the State at large.
This is not enough, and the Governor directed the State Bureau of Statistic to count the Fulani Cattle Rearers residing in Kano as a measure to include them in all the developmental plans and budget of the State.
In addition, Dr Ganduje always reminds the Fulani Herdsmen to stick to rearing, farming and educate themselves through available means.
“If you can recall well, our Grandfather and Reformer Shehu Usman Bin Fodio taught this during his time, as if you can practice these three occupations, you will continue to be relevant in the society.
“So this is our way of life in the olden days, and no any tribe that doesn’t have any bad eggs, but to be sincere, we must commit ourselves to protect the existing dignity and unique values of Fulani in Nigeria”, Dr Ganduje narrates.
Besides, In his first year as a governor of Kano state, He sponsored 60 Fulani youth who undergone training on Artificial Insemination in Turkey.
Henceforth, Kano is the first state in Nigeria to build the Ruga Settlement for Fulani Herdsmen, after the proposal of building such was not successful by the Federal Government due to issues arising from the Southern part.
The Elderly Fulani man did not stop there. He also promised to include the people sidelined over the years in any developmental agenda to uplift the tribe and their occupation.
History cannot forget the economic growth that Fulani Herdsmen give to Nigeria since before the time of colonial masters to date. And in this era, Ganduje’s zeal and determination to change bad narratives on Fulani must be acknowledged and be put on record.
It’s time for the remaining Fulani Leaders that achieved so much in their Professions to stand and protect the dignity and help their people to overcome the challenges they are facing nowadays, as Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been doing for decades.
