Oluwo of Iwo Tackles FG Grazing Policy

By Dipo Olowookere

**Seeks Reorientation of Herdsmen

Paramount ruler and king of Iwo land in Osun state, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, has kicked against plans by Federal Government to establish cattle colonies across the country to stop the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Reacting during a meeting with stakeholders at his palace recently, the vocal monarch described field grazing and cattle roaming as barbaric, emphasising that they should be abolished at once as it does conform to modernization and 21st century development of any country.

At the meeting which focused on solutions to herdsmen incessant attacks on innocent Nigerians, Mr Akanbi said no government that wants to move forward will encourage grazing, adding that there’s no place in the world where government acquires land on behalf of herdsmen for the purpose of cattle grazing.

He added that the herdsmen can either rent, lease or buy lands for pen/byre construction to house their cattle and that it is at the farmer’s or land owner’s discretion to sell to them.

“The herdsmen got it wrong due to lack of education towards animal farming in the 21st century.

“The alternative to grazing is pen with sufficient hay storage. This will help restrict the cows to the confines of the pen- which is a controlled area. That is how it is done in advanced country. You can never see herdsmen grazing cattle in Europe,” the Oluwo said.

He added that, “Herdsmen can even purchase hays to feed the cows can be purchased from the farmers thereby establishing and sustaining a peaceful affinity with farmers across Nigeria.”

Oba AbdulRasheed however advised the federal government that the solution to Fulani herdsmen/farmers recurring clash is proper orientation and education on modernized animal farming and not acquiring hectares of land on behalf of herdsmen as grazing zone across the federation.