BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A former Nigerian Ambassador to Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, has described plans by the Federal Government to reopen grazing routes across the country as unfortunate, arguing that President Muhammadu Buhari appears to have prioritised the interest of the Fulanis above others.
Farounbi, therefore, advised President Buhari to instruct the Fulani herdsmen and others who might be interested in cattle business to engage in ranching.
The former ambassador urged Buhari not to allow his personal interest and his perceived ethnic loyalty to blind him to the enormous economic and security gains that the ranching system could fetch the country.
In an exclusive interview toes, peppers and onions. It will, therefore, be easy to start (the commercial) production of grass using irrigation.
“The ranching system will remove permanently the source of discord between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers. I believe that should excite any president that has sincere commitment to all Nigerians. The ranching system will allow the farmers to increase their yields without any fear of their farms getting ravaged by cattle.
“It has been established also that there’s no existing federal law that established grazing routes that PMB can reactivate. We are told that there’s only a law made by the then Northern Regional Government.
“The direction to go is for the states to enact the anti-open grazing laws and seek to enforce it”
“In his recent interview, PMB indicated that when he retires as president, he would go back to cattle farming. PMB should not allow his personal interest and partisan ethnic loyalty blind him to the enormous economic and security gains that will accrue to Nigeria through the ranching system. He should not allow such ethnic loyalty to override national interest or breach the provision of the Constitution that vested land control in the state governors.
“The direction to go is for the states to enact the anti-open grazing laws and seek to enforce it. The second thing is to establish ranches in the southern states to produce local varieties of cattle that will meet the demand of the people. Chief Obafemi Awolowo did this by establishing over 10 ranches in the Western Region. Governor Fayemi is already doing this in Ekiti. The success of this venture will have an effect on those who want to stubbornly cling to the outdated open grazing method.”
Meanwhile, some farmers in Osun State have decried the proposed decision by the Buhari-led administration to establish grazing routes, noting that it would aggravate the clash between farmers and the herdsmen.
A rice farmer in the state, Ismail Ayodele, urged the Federal Government to ensure that those engaging in cattle business practised ranching.
In his view, reopening of grazing routes would worsen the incessant clashes between the farmers and the herders.
