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Ranches Commission bill will relocate Fulani herders to states of origin – Barau cries out

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Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau on Wednesday strongly opposed a bill for an act to establish the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission, which was sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam, from Benue State.

Barau said the bill, if allowed and passed into law, was targeted at relocating Fulani herders wherever they are to their various states of origin, which will be absolutely difficult as they may not know where they came from.

The concerned lawmaker maintained that the bill was in breach of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, particularly in regard to choice of residence, insisting that nobody should be denied where they chose to live.

Barau stoked heated debate as he expressed rejection, but was the lone voice as other Senators who contributed to the bill welcomed the development.

According to him, he benefited from living in a place that was not his place of origin, hence, Fulani herders in any part of the country should be allowed to live wherever they chose to.

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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PDP Holds BoT Meeting, Vows To Restore Confidence, Hold Congress In States

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) is presently meeting in Abuja.

In his opening address, the BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, reaffirmed the commitment of the body to restoring confidence within the party and organizing congresses in states where they have not yet been held.

Senator Ohuabunwa told members that the national leadership is ready to work collaboratively with all state chapters to bring fresh leadership and stability across the country.

He outlined the PDP’s roadmap: conduct overdue state congresses, consolidate ongoing achievements, and support the national leadership to steer the party back on course.

According to him, these steps are critical to ensuring unity, transparency, and strengthening grassroots engagement.

By holding timely congresses and reinforcing organizational discipline, PDP hopes to rebuild trust among members and present a more organized, credible front ahead of future elections.

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BREAKING: Talon safe as loyalist forces regain control after brief coup scare

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Benin’s President Patrice Talon is safe, and security forces are restoring order after a faction of soldiers claimed to have removed him from power, the presidency announced on Sunday.

In a brief statement, the presidency dismissed the soldiers’ declaration as the actions of a fringe group with limited influence.

“This is a small group of individuals who only managed to seize the television station. The regular army is steadily regaining control. Both the city and the entire country remain completely secure,” the statement said.

The clarification follows an earlier broadcast by soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” who declared that Talon had been removed from office.

The government has since described the broadcast as an isolated disruption, assuring citizens that the situation is under control.

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Orluzurumee Shifts Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting To December 13

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The leadership of Orluzurumee, the apex socio-cultural body of Orlu Zone, has announced a new date for its much-anticipated Expanded Leadership and Stakeholders Meeting.

In a statement by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Nnamdi Cos-Ukwuoma, the organization said the meeting, earlier scheduled was shifted due to fresh logistical arrangements aimed at ensuring wider participation and seamless coordination.

According to the statement, the meeting will now take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Mayor Eze Hall, Orlu Local Government Headquarters, by 11:00 a.m.

Orluzurumee, under the leadership of its President General, Rt. Hon. Ugochukwu Nzekwe, expressed regret over any inconvenience the postponement may have caused invited stakeholders, stressing that the adjustment was necessary to guarantee a more inclusive and productive engagement.

According to the statement, the meeting is being convened in collaboration with the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Dr. Emmanuel Okeke, and is expected to bring together traditional institutions, political leaders, community heads and other key actors from across Orlu Zone.

The organization described the gathering as a critical platform for fostering unity, peace and development across the zone, while reaffirming its commitment to the vision of “One Voice, One Destiny, One Orlu.”

Stakeholders and residents of the zone were urged to attend and participate actively in shaping the future direction of Orlu.

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