- Barau was the lone dissenting voice, as other senators supported the bill
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau opposed a bill to establish the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission, sponsored by Senator Titus Zam of Benue State.
Barau argued that the bill aimed to relocate Fulani herders to their states of origin, which would be difficult as many herders may not know their origins. He stated that the bill violates the Nigerian Constitution’s provision for freedom of residence.
Barau was the lone dissenting voice, as other senators supported the bill. He emphasized that people, including Fulani herders, should be free to live wherever they choose, sharing his own positive experience of living outside his place of origin.
He said: “There is a snag in this bill, there is a problem because you cannot stop any Nigerian from living in any area that he so wishes.
“The relevant section of the constitution has been read. I saw something just a few days ago: Senator Natasha visited a Fulani settlement in her senatorial zone. Those people do not have any home except that place. They have been there for so long. They have been part and parcel of that society.
“Now, to tell them to move to their state of origin, where is their state of origin?
“Now, for us as political leaders, I would like you to look at that. Who is the current Senator of FCT? She is a Yoruba native, but she has won the election here. Nobody told her to return to her state.
“I won my first election in Tarauni Federal Constituency to the House of Representatives in 1999 from Kano Central, but I am from Kano North. Nobody told me to go back to Kano North, so why do we now tell herders to go back to their states of origin?
“My friend Zam understands that this is not in consonance with our constitution; your bill is good. I like this bill, but this aspect should be removed. We should remove it. I advise my friend Senator Zam to stand this bill down for a consultation, for better drafting, so that it goes in consonance with our constitution.
“Mr President, I will tell you some of these Fulanis, if you ask them where their state of origin is, they have even forgotten; they look at themselves as Nigerians.
“We should address the issue to reflect wherever someone is, it’s his place, and he can do his business there. So, Mr President, I advise this bill to be stepped down for further consultation.”
Barau’s spirited effort to shut down the bill failed as majority of the lawmakers okayed the bill when Senate President, Godswill Akpabio put it to voice vote.
The bill having passed second reading was committed to the relevant Committee for public hearing.
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