Babachir: My yearly battle with Fulani herdsmen is reason I will not support Atiku

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Babachir Lawal, ssid he would never support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar because of his yearly battle, in the last seven to eight years, with Fulani herdsmen.

Lawal stated that Fulani’s animals invaded his farms and ate up his crops in the last seven to right years.

He also claimed that Atiku’s presidential ambition would not fly because it would amount to the transition of government from one Muslim Fulani president to another Muslim Fulani president and that, according to him, would be the worst form of Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Lawal spoke against thd backdrop of reports doing the rounds that he had abandoned the camp of Mr Peter Obi for Waziri Atiku Abubakar.

In a statement released, on Monday, in Abuja, Lawal dismissed the report as fake.

He stated that he would not support any Fulani person that might undermine Nigeria’s unity through religion or ethnicity.

The statement read in part: “I have just seen a trending news that I have abandoned Peter Obi to work for Atiku Abubakar.

“There is nothing far from the truth as this. I have never contemplated joining PDP since its formation as I view the PDP as the worst form of a collection of oligarchs and reactionaries.

“Besides, I find myself every year battling Fulani herdsmen determined to have their animals invade my farms and eat up my crops every year. This is aside from their determination to take over the ancestral farmlands of my kinsmen as they do everywhere in the North. All these they do in a cavalier manner while their elite kinsmen dominant in the government keep mute.

“Moreover, I view a transition of government from one Muslim Fulani President to another as the worst form of Muslim-Muslim ticket. It also represents ethnic domination by one ethnic group over others. I remain a Peter Obi diehard. Any news to the contrary is fake news.”