Obaseki denies agreeing to provide grazing land for herders, sends strong warning to "defeated politicians"
- Herdsmen will not have access to any free land for grazing in Edo state, Governor Obaseki has said
- The Edo state governor said he never agreed to provide land for herders, as earlier reported by the media
- Obaseki also accused his political opponents of trying to politicise the herdsmen issue to instigate killings in Edo state
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Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo state, has dismissed media reports claiming that he has agreed to provide grazing land for herdsmen in the state.
The Edo state governor insisted that he will not cede any part of the state's land for grazing cattle, Channels TV reported.
Legit.ng gathers that Obaseki's position is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie.
Source: Twitter
The statement reads in part:
"Grazing is an economic activity just like poultry and piggery or any other agricultural enterprise. The Edo State Government will not cede any land in the state for grazing.”
Politicizing herdsmen issues
Governor Obaseki accused some unnamed "defeated politicians" of trying to use the herdsmen issues to instigate killings in Edo state because they are embittered by the heavy loss they suffered in the political space.
He, however, noted that their alleged plots have failed due to the "pre-emptive actions" taken by the state government.
Nigerians react
Bishop Onyeka commented on Facebook:
"Thank you very much Governor Obaseki for putting it straight. If they need land for grazing they should pay paid for it and should not pass the perimeter they for, they must obey every law of the land."
JO Uzomba said:
"Straight to the point. Not mincing the truth. Even if some have sold their land it retrievable. No fears. Thank my Governor."
Sunday Okoh said:
"We can only take you serious when you match your words with action, talk is cheap"
Msuu Anzenge said:
"Give ruga and the state will be getting income just like a government building airports. Pls let's stop sentiments and solve this problems once and for all"
Tundey Bakare said:
"Kudos for standing by your citizens, u really woo me with this gesture! I hope other southerm governors can learn from this."
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Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki had earlier vowed that his administration would treat bandits who disguise as herders to perpetrate crime in the state as criminals.
The Edo state governor disclosed this during a fact-finding mission to Odighi community in Uhiere ward of Ovia-North-East local government area over the clashes between herders and farmers.
He noted that the new breed of herders being encountered are different from those the state used to know.
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Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_
Source: Legit.ng
