House Minority Caucus Loses Two Lawmakers to APC

Two members of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Blessing Onuh and Hon. Yakubu Abdullahi at the plenary yesterday, announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While, Onuh who represents Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency of Benue, joined the APC from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Abdullahi who represents Bauchi Federal Constituency, also dumped the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) for the APC.

In their separate letters read by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the lawmakers said the reason for their defection was due to the internal crisis in their respective parties.

Onuh, daughter of former Senate President, Senator David Mark, said she was leaving APGA due to leadership crisis at all levels of the party, adding she decided to leave after serious consultation with her people.

She commended national leadership of the APC for making the defection possible.

On his part, Abdullahi said he decided to leave the PRP as a result of the crisis, which led to emergence of two national chairmen for the party as well as two chairmen in Bauchi state.

He said the crisis in the party in Bauchi state is worrisome as it has led to series of litigations among members of the party.

He also claimed that one of the factions of the party in Bauchi wrote him a letter suspending him from the party

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, yesterday suggested the establishment of a pastoral commission to address the herdsmen’s crisis in the country.

Malami, who noted that the clashes between farmers and herders have recently dominated the media space, said it is time for all critical stakeholders to come together and proffer lasting solutions.

He was speaking at the 2021 Peace, Unity and Security Lecture Series held in Abuja.

He said, “Nigeria is predominately agricultural in nature and by geography. To that extent, there is constant mobility of herders across the different belts of Nigeria.

“It is, perhaps, time to consider setting-upacommissionforpastoralism regulated by law. This might provide recipes for resolving protracted farmerherder conflicts.”

The AGF, who was represented by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, stated that the commission may even engage in or facilitate in-depth analytical studies with a view to providing lasting solutions for the benefit of people and the country.

He also suggested revamping of the activities of the Nomadic Education Commission with a view to complimenting the efforts of government in resolving the herdsmen’s crisis.

He commended the organisers for building the theme of this year’s lecture series around the issue of peaceful co-existence and mutual harmony among interrelated and interdependent communities in the country.

He said as the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria, he believes some of the ways for a peaceful Nigeria include strict adherence to the rule of law, respecting the sanctity of the fundamental human rights in all ramifications, including freedom of movement and the right of citizens to stay at whatever part of the country they choose to and other provisions as contained in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I want to submit that mastering and adopting conflict management strategies, interpersonal and intercommunity tolerance, enhanced public relations techniques, understanding of multiculturalism and diversity, socially responsible and objective media, properly motivated and welltrained security forces with patriotic Nigerians sincerely committed to duty are the recipe for a peaceful Nigeria,” Malami said.