By Francis Nansak, Lafia
Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District and APC gubernatorial hopeful for the 2027 election, has declared that if elected governor of Nasarawa State, he will prioritize the welfare of every Fulani person in the state through the development of cattle ranches.
He said his administration would not tolerate roaming around communities and towns with cattle in the name of grazing, noting that the cows often look sick and tired, while the herders are weak and lack education about global changes and government policies.
The governorship hopeful made the statement on Sunday while hosting not fewer than 10 groups at his Polo Ranch in Keffi.
Buttressing his point, Senator Wadada advocated for the establishment of ranches, education for nomads, and the provision of basic social amenities to improve their living conditions.
According to him, “I have always told you that roaming around with your cattle is never a better life for you and your cattle. Therefore, you must forget about roaming the cities with your cattle. Ranching, to me, is big business for you. It will give your cows a healthy look that can attract more money for your family’s wellbeing.
“If, for instance, this Polo Ranch becomes a cattle ranch and one of you brings in 30 of his cows, their feeding, drinking and injections will be the responsibility of the government. You will, of course, pay a fee. Your children will be attending school or engaged in skill acquisition. With time, government will allow private partners to take over the ranch. You will be making money and government will be generating revenue,”He said.
Senator Wadada also reiterated that implementing the ranching system in the state will ensure security and foster harmony, unlike the current situation where farmers and herders clash annually, leading to loss of lives and destruction of crops and property.
“We must appreciate modernization, accept innovations and move forward with changing situations,” Wadada added.
The lawmaker, while addressing his supporters during meetings with separate groups, emphasized tolerance and peace. He warned against retaliating against those fanning the embers of crisis on social media and other platforms.
“Let me plead with you that as we approach the period of campaigns, don’t be tempted to return insults to whoever insults me or you. Ours is about governance and sustaining the existing development in the state that has been established by our amiable governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule.
“I have already made it clear that anyone seeking to lead you should provide a clear-cut blueprint for the state and show you his or her track record of what they have done in the past. We are not talking about sharing of food items, but tangible development that has direct bearing on society. We have been sharing rice since 1999. If anyone seeking to be governor today has the kind of record I have on ground, I urge you to vote for him to lead you as the next governor. This is why, in my policy of political education, I have with me my legislative scorecard and an agenda for the state called the ‘Wadada HEARTS Agenda’,” he added.
The meetings were between Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu and Nasarawa State former female councillors, as well as support groups from Agwada, Akwanga, Lafia, Laminga and Bassa. They were coordinated by the Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu Campaign Council,at the instances of Professor Suleiman Mohammed Bala, Imran Usman, the Chairman of Keffi Local Government Area, Dr. Idris Damagani, and the immediate past Chairman of Keffi LGA, Alhaji Mohammed Babashehu.
The former female councillors were presented with three vehicles and cash donations to enhance their movement, with each zone receiving one vehicle, while other groups received cash donations running into millions of naira.
