Following yesterday’s violent clash between pro-Biafra activists and
security agents, the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu has
expressed concern over the excesses of security operatives in handling
protests. Moving a motion through Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules,
the lawmaker condemned the killing of protesters by troops and urged
all those involved in
The deputy Senate president,
speaking under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Orders to make a Personal
Explanation over the mayhem in Uzo- Uwani community, said over 50 lives
were reportedly lost, while over 2000 persons were displaced and homes
amid property worth millions of Naira destroyed. The reporter said that Ekweremadu called on
the Senate to immediately conduct a public hearing to enable all
stakeholders to state their feelings and experiences with a view to
finding a lasting solution to the issue. He also said: “Mr. President,
remember I call your attention to a resolution of this Senate on
Thursday 03 March, 2016. Recall that on that day, one of the issues we
discussed was a motion titled ‘tackling the perennial conflicts between
farmers and cattle herdsmen’. “At the end of that debate, we took a
number of resolutions. I recall that in my contribution I suggested that
the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the
Committee on National Security and Intelligence do conduct a public
hearing on this matter with a view to articulating a lasting solution to
the problem.
“Up till now, that public hearing
has not started. It is important for Nigerians to know that we are doing
something about this perennial problem. It is not enough for us to be
doing something; we must be seen to be doing something. “I believe that
it is time for the committees to come together and commence action on
these resolutions namely, to start a public hearing on this problem
between the farmers and the cattle herdsmen. “I say this because it is
getting too late.
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