To Peace In Ogun
We must come up with more practical and viable recommendations that will further cement the peaceful coexistence that we have always had in Ogun State
feeding on farmers’ produce. He, therefore, called for the creation of special areas for herders to graze their cattle.
He also called for the rehabilitation of schools in the area to attract more children, saying that the number of out- of- school children was increasing in the area.
In the course of the visit, the delegation had a town hall meeting with the people of Oja Odan and also addressed the people at Ibeshe and Ilaro Garage, as well as the Hausa community at Dangote Cement Factory at Ibeshe and Kara, Abeokuta, where they appealed for calm and support in finding amicable solutions to the crisis.
The member representing Yewa North II State Constituency, Hon. Haruna Egungbohun, who lauded Abiodun’s efforts towards combating the menace of killer herdsmen, stressed the need to beef up security in the axis to prevent further loss of lives. However, some of the indigenes, who spoke at the meeting, called for the protection of farmers and their produce in the areas, assuring that they were ready to live in peace with their neighbours. Immediately the “confidence- building mission” carried out its assignment, the Governor followed up by leading top government functionaries and security chiefs for an on- the- spot assessment of the affected areas. During his visit, he informed that a stakeholders’ forum, aimed at finding lasting solutions to the farmers- herders clashes, would hold with some northern governors in attendance.
“This forum will have the representatives of all areas affected by this violence and some of the people who have been living with us for so many years. There will be representatives from outside the state. It is our hope and desire that at the end of the forum, we will find a common ground on how to live peaceful,” Abiodun told his audience, including monarchs of the affected areas. While denouncing violence in any form, the Governor noted that the state has been a haven to people from other ethnic groups and foreigners. He condemned activities of people who come to stoke violence and sow seeds of discord among residents. He assured that government would settle the hospital bills of the injured and compensate those who lost their properties and means of livelihood during the crisis.
During his visit, the Governor stated that the planned task force would be made up of personnel from the military, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services ( DSS) and local hunters, among others, to patrol the areas and restore confidence among residents. At the Obas Complex, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta, a stakeholders’ parley on farmerherder conflict was convened as promised by Governor Abiodun. At the event, Northern Governors, including Atiku Bagudu ( Kebbi), Abdullahi Ganduje ( Kano), Abubakar Sani Bello ( Niger) and Bello Matawalle ( Zamfara) were in attendance. Also present was Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who is the Chairman, South West Governors’ Forum. Abiodun, while speaking at the parley, said it had become worrisome that people who had co- existed peacefully for years are suddenly at each other’s throat on account of sources of livelihood. He stated that it was time urgent and pragmatic steps were taken in settling the farmer- herder conflict to forestall it from snowballing into an unstoppable crisis.
His words: “From time immemorial, herders and farmers have peacefully cohabited and have continued to find joint solutions to their mutual challenges, occasional frictions and misunderstandings, while sorting these differences amicably.
“Our first priority in Ogun State is the safety of lives and property of everyone in our dear State, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or religious leaning. Let me restate that we will not compromise.
“There is a need for collective action among all of us, whether as native farmers; cattle owners; herders; local community leaders and security agents, among others, to rid our dear state of these criminals.
“We must use the opportunity of this parley to tell ourselves the truth, not necessarily by apportioning blame. But definitely we must come up with more practical and viable recommendations that will further cement the peaceful coexistence that we have always had in Ogun State.”
On his part, Ganduje attributed the farmerherder clashes to encroachment, poor education and poverty among the herders, among other factors, and called for the stoppage of the practice of moving cattle from the North to the south.
The Kano Governor described the crisis as an economic issue that is turning tribal and religious, urging the Federal Government to assist herders transit from pastoral to modern ranching.
Speaking in the same vein, Governor Sanni of Niger State called for sincere actions to address the problem before it takes a new twist, noting that the setting up of ranches was the best way to stop the crisis.
Matawalle recalled the activities of bandits in his state, regretting the loss of lives and destruction of property from their attacks in Zamfara.
For Governor Bagudu, who is also the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Nigerians have a right to live in any part of the country. He, however, said there must be ways of identifying herders and regulating their activities for peaceful co- existence. Akeredolu called for a situation where the herders would stay in their respective states and allow those who need their cattle to come and buy from them. He said the steps taken by South West Governors were not targeted at any group, but an attempt to prevent insurgency in the region. He enjoined the leadership of Miyetti Allah to expose suspected criminals among them, so as not to give their association a bad name.
The Awujale of Ijebuland, who is also the Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, said traditional rulers in the state were in support of every step taken by the government in solving the crisis.
The President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria ( MACBAN), Mohammed Kiriwa, represented by the National Secretary, Uthman Ngelxema, noted that the crisis was caused by foreign herders, as their Nigerian counterparts have always lived in peace with host communities, while the State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria ( AFAN), Chief Segun Dasaolu, revealed that there has been strong collaboration with some herders who had lived in the South West for more than 200 years. He declared that it was time to combine forces to tackle the menace.
Rounding off discussions, Governor Abiodun said the Federal Government needed to take a second look at the ECOWAS treaty, as it was meant for people and not cattle movement. He maintained that a treaty was expected to be signed between the herders and the state government on what had been discussed and agreed upon.
As part of measures to end the crisis, the state government inaugurated a 20- man Peace Committee on Farmer- Herder Conflict
headed by a former House of Representatives member, Kayode Oladele. The committee has since swung into action to engender peaceful coexistence, just as the state government has embarked on distribution of palliatives to victims to cush
ion the effects of the crisis.
Impressed by the approach employed by Ogun State, President Muhammadu Buhari recommended the model for others facing similar skirmishes, when Governor Abiodun briefed him at the Aso Villa recently.