BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Fulani-Bororo herders and farmers in Osun State, have pledged readiness to comply with the anti-open grazing law of the state. They said efforts were in place for them to switch to ranching system.
At a meeting convened by the leadership of the state committee on peaceful co-existence between Fulani/Bororo farmers and crop farmers held at the Centre for Civic Engagement Office in Osogbo on Wednesday, the Fulani-Bororo herders and farmers across the state, promised to desist from grazing their cattle openly.
Their heads, otherwise known as Serikis, who took turn to speak at the meeting said they would continue to live peacefully with their respective host communities in the state.
The meeting, convened to sensitise and create awareness of the anti-open grazing law, was attended by Special Adviser to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Civic Engagement, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, Special Adviser on Security, Abiodun Ige, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Adedayo Adewole, Chairman of the peaceful co-existence committee, Mudasiru Toogun, hundreds of Fulani, Bororo residents across the state.
Others at the meeting include, Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade; Special Adviser on Land and Physical Planning, Hon. Aleem Bakare; SSA on Special Duties, Mr. Samson Owoyokun, Chairman AFAN, Alh. Sulaiman Araokanmi, and representative from Osun State House of Assembly.
Speaking, the Chairman of Seriki Fulani in the state, Ibrahim Babatunde, said the ban on open grazing would be beneficial to them and that anyone caught flouting the law would be handed over to the government.
“We are happy with this meeting, the anti-open grazing law will benefit us greatly. We have agreed to desist from grazing openly. We will instruct our people to also stop grazing openly and destroying people’s farms. If anyone of us flouts this law by grazing on the road or in the farm, we will apprehend such a person and hand him over to the State Government for necessary action.
“We thank the State Government because Osun is one of the states that we the Fulani are enjoying peace. We have been living peacefully with our host communities, especially the farmers. We will like to see the Governor to express our gratitude. This meeting is based on how we will continue with our cattle rearing business through ranching,” he added.
Oyintiloye said the meeting was necessary for Fulani-Bororo herders and farmers to be enlightened on the content of the Anti-open grazing law so as not to feign ignorance of it if contravened. “We engaged the Fulani who are into cattle business to operate within the ambit of the new law. Anti-open grazing law is for everyone and it’s not to witch-hunt or segregate them. We run an inclusive governance here and we embrace everyone,” he added.
The Special Adviser further said that, “The Government is preparing a soft landing for them (Fulani-Bororo herders) in terms of where they will be grazing their cattle because there is a portion of the law that gives them the opportunity to acquire land certified by government for them to graze.”
Chairman of the committee, Mudasiru Toogun, who spoke while addressing the non-indigenes warned against deployment of young boys for open grazing adding that any young one caught herding would be arrested and the adult that hired such person would also not escape justice.
