19 months after rejecting RUGA, Obaseki says he'll give land to herders in Edo
- Edo state has witnessed consistent herdsmen attacks in recent times
- The situation forced some women in the state to block major roads amid protests recently
- In seeking solutions, Governor Godwin Obaseki has now changed his mind about giving land to herders
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Nineteen (19) months after he rejected the now suspended RUGA programme of the federal government, Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, February 9 backtracked on his earlier position on giving out pieces of land to herders in the state.
In July 2019, Obaseki was among the governors who rejected the idea of state governments providing land for herders to build a settlement and grazing area for their cattle.
The governor has now declared that his government would create a grazing area for herders to curb clashes with farmers.
Source: UGC
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He made the comment while visiting some communities in the state who recently witnessed unprecedented herdsmen attacks.
A statement posted on social media by the Edo state government quoted the governor as saying:
“We will create an area where the cattle will go regularly to eat, as they must not go to peoples’ farms. This will stop cattle from moving around the community, including in farmlands.”
Recall that the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) recently asked the federal government to give the cattle rearing industry enough funds to buy land for the establishment of ranches.
The suggestion was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday, February 3 by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, and seen by Legit.ng.
Professor Akintola went on to say the government can ban open grazing after the bailout fund has been released.
Meanwhile, in Imo, Governor Hope Uzodinma has declared that herders and farmers operate as a family in the state.
Governor Uzodinma made the declaration while speaking at a peace meeting he convened on Thursday, February 4 to address all stakeholders concerning the recent farmers/herders crisis in other parts of the country.
According to him, stakeholders in Imo have been meeting regularly since he took over the reins of power in the state as a measure to sustain the peace in his domain.
Source: Legit.ng
