Former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, does not believe that Fulani herdsmen are the brains behind the recent wave of attacks in parts of the north.
He said Nigerians should rather blame hoodlums who dress as Fulani herdsmen for the killings and destruction of property.
Gen. Gowon, leading a delegation of the Nigeria Prays Movement of which he is head on a visit to Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State in Abakaliki, said: “I find it difficult to believe that it is the Fulani herdsmen who are predominantly little children that cause the mayhem in some parts of the country.
“These children carry sticks and lead their cattle on pasture across the country, but now some people put-on Fulani clothes and perpetrate crisis.
“The question is how the transformation from little cattle herders to criminals took place, as we should continue to pray that God touches the hearts of these disgruntled elements to change.”
He described prayer as the main tool necessary to solve the numerous security challenges confronting the nation.
“The power of prayer is stronger than all physical powers we have as when it touches our souls, we become the right instruments God wants us to be,” he said.
He added:”In the Bible, Saul was persecuting the Christians, but when God’s power touched him, he became the strongest disciple that ever propagated God’s word.”
He said that the seriousness of the security challenges in the country makes it imperative for Nigerians to seek God’s grace to restore peace to the country.
He asked residents of the state to turnout en masse today for the prayer summit scheduled for Abakaliki by his organisation.
Elechi, in his response, thanked Gowon for his fatherly role in the country and for leading the vanguard to salvage the country through prayers.
He said of the former military leader:”Gowon became head of state at the age of 31, bravely waded through the civil war period and is now leading ordained men of God to seek solutions to the nation’s problems.
“He has remained relevant in all regimes since leaving office, both military and civilian, and he insults no one but gives fatherly advice to successive governments.”
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