“My people are against cattle colonies; they have said that they would not relinquish their ancestral lands for the purpose of grazing reserves or colonies.”

This is the position of Senator Jonah Jang, who represents Plateau North in the Senate on the proposed cattle colony whose modalities have not yet been worked out by the Federal Government.

In a statement by Clinton Garuba, his media consultant, Jang, who was once the governor of Plateau State, stressed that people of his constituency are opposed to the creation of cattle colonies.

The Senator lamented the attacks on his people by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen over the years, adding that victims of such attacks are “not ready to accept the confiscation of their land by government.

“Cattle colonies are detrimental to the people and will not be accepted. The Plateau government is aware of this.

“We have already suffered too much loss in the hands of attackers believed to be herdsmen; creating colonies for them will only worsen the situation.

“The Plateau people are peaceful and have always rejected any policy that could undermine that peace.

Jang called on the federal and state governments to organize a meeting of stakeholders to seek a lasting solution to the incessant herdsmen/farmers clashes, adding there is the need for policies that would be fair and acceptable to all concerned.

Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai of Kaduna has made it clear that he would not reverse the sacking of 21,780 teachers irrespective of pressure from any quarter.
The teachers were sacked in November last year after they failed primary four examination.
“There is nothing to step back on. It is a well thought out position. We took one and half years before we made the decision and we will not change it.”
The governor told news men at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Friday after observing Jum’at (Friday) prayer along with President Muhammadu Buhari that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) whose leadership protested the sack yesterday in the state had the right to express themselves the way they feel.
“For me, the right to protest is guaranteed in the constitution providing you don’t go violent and you don’t violate any laws.”
Governor el-Rufai said that in line with the public service rule, the state government will pay three months severance pay to the sacked teachers.
He said that some incentives have also been provided for those that are retiring to go through the retirement training. “Those that are interested in farming, we have the reserve land available and for those that want to go into trade, we have micro credit to support them but they are not suitable as teachers.
“They can do other things and the government will do other things to support them.”
He denied instructing police to stop workers from marching to government house during the protest in the state yesterday, saying that he was not even in Kaduna.
He believed that the concerns of the police was because of the precarious situation in the country particularly in Kaduna which made it unsuitable to have such protest.
“And the last time they did such a thing, they attacked the State House of Assembly; a legislator for which they have filed criminal charges. So this is the concern, the concern is break down of law and order and not protest or strike. They are free to do so but it will not change our position.”

Top security operatives have confirmed that the Leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim ElZakzaky and his wife are alive and in stable health conditions.
The sources stressed that the rumour of the death of Sheikh El-Zakzaky is a handiwork of mischievous makers who would stop at nothing to cause confusion among the followers and for ulterior motives.
An intelligence officer said: “as I am speaking to you now Sheikh ElZakzaky and his wife are alive and stable.
“They observe they regular prayers and are in stable condition.
“The peddlers of rumours claiming he is dead are mischievous undesirable elements engaging in the antics for ulterior motives.
“While it is out of place to say more than this, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife are accorded respects and some privileges including occasional communication.
“Therefore the message being circulated to the effect that there would violence as a result of his death is unfounded and misleading and should be disregarded.”