Herders/farmers crisis in Benue politicised – Prof. Uza

Former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Prof. Daniel Uza, has expressed worry that the herders and farmers crisis in Benue is being politicised.

Uza stated this during the investiture of Dr. Andrew Amine as the 8th State Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) on Saturday in Makurdi.

The don said that it was because the issue had been politicised that most people who could have proffered solutions were scared of talking so as not to be viewed as taking sides.

According to him, veterinary doctors have the real solution to the crisis, but they will offer it only when the authorities approach them for professional advice.

He noted that 60 to 75 percent of diseases affecting human beings had their origins in animals.

Uza, therefore, advised veterinary doctors to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to protect both human beings and animals.

Speaking earlier, Amine called on stakeholders, both in veterinary and human medicine, to collaborate in order to achieve health for humans as well as animals.

He also appealed to the guests to support the association in acquiring land for its secretariat, stressing that if the association had a secretariat, it would be easier to ensure service delivery to the people.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joshua Abuku, a former chairman of NVMA in Benue, expressed disappointment over veterinary doctors’ silence on the lingering crisis between herders and farmers in the state.

Abuku urged them to interact with the stakeholders so that they could offer solutions and put an end to the protracted crisis.

Also speaking at the event, the wife of Benue Speaker, Mrs. Cynthia Dajoh, expressed confidence in the ability of Amine to deliver.

According to Dajoh, the new NVMA chairman has a very bright future ahead of him and will soar higher and higher.