Anti-open grazing law: Herders in Osun pledge to comply
Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
Fulani-Bororo herders and farmers in Osun State have pledged to obey the anti-open grazing law of the state.
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.
According to Babatunde, “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.
He said this in 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.
The Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Olatunbosun 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.
Oyintiloye who represented Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said, “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 further said, “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.”
