By Awayi Kuye
Garaku (Nasarawa State) – A lawmaker in Nasarawa State, Mr Daniel Oga Ogazi, has urged farmers and Fulani herdsmen to live in peace and harmony in order to boost food production in the state.
Oga Ogazi, (APC) member representing Kokona East Constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, made the appeal on Friday in Mechen community of Kokona Local Government Area.
The lawmaker spoke at a peace and reconciliation meeting he organised for farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the local government.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that recently there was misunderstanding which led to a clash between farmers and herdsmen of Meschen community in Kokona local council.
Oga Ogazi said that the meeting was organised to reconcile and discuss way forward in order to ensure permanent peace for the overall development of the area.
He called on farmers and herdsmen to sheath their swords and embrace peace irrespective of their background in order to boost food production.
“The aim of this meeting is not to apportion blames to anybody or group.
‘‘It is to find ways on how to find lasting solution to problems between farmers and herdsmen of this area in the interest of peace and development of the country.
“I want both of you (farmers and herdsmen) to sheath your swords and accept that peace must be sustained in this community.
“‘We must realise that no nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.
“We need to know that the security challenges facing some parts of the country had affected our lives and the nation’s socio-economic development negatively.
“Without peaceful co-existence between the farmers and the herdsmen, agricultural production and the socio-economic development of the country will be affected negatively,” he said.
According to him, “As we are all aware that no society can survive comfortably without agriculture, agriculture is the major source of livelihood of every family and nation.
‘It is only when farmers and herdsmen embrace peace that there will be abundant food production,’’ he added.
He also called on the people of the area to be security conscious and to report their grievances to the appropriate authority for necessary action.
Oga Ogazi, who gave assurance that government would take decisive action against anybody caught fomenting trouble, promised his constituents of a robust and quality representation at the legislative body.
He urged them to continue to give him and Gov. Tanko Al-makura’s administration the needed support and cooperation to enable them succeed in the task ahead.
NAN reports that the meeting was attended by farmers and herdsmen in the area.
A cross section of those who spoke during the meeting warned trouble makers to desist or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law. (NAN)
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