Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
Osun State Chairman of Serikin Fulani/Bororo, Alhaji Ibrahim Dende has assured that herdsmen would abide by the no-overnight grazing order as agreed by Southwest governors.
Alhaji Dende gave the assurance on Tuesday, in Osogbo, while reacting to the no overnight grazing order issued to herdsmen in the region.
Dende who acknowledged Osun as one of the most peaceful State in Nigeria said the peaceful atmosphere must be sustained.
He said they are always ready to cooperate with the government in all its efforts to ensure that all residents of the State live together in peace and harmony irrespective of their places of origin.
According to him, “From now on, we are ready to follow all government’s guidelines on grazing. When you graze cattle at night it will be pretty difficult to guide them from destroying farms.
“There won’t be overnight grazing again in Osun and we will ensure that our children will not graze cattle but under the supervision of older people.
“They will only follow older people to learn so that they will grow up learning the trade.”
Dende praised Governor Gboyega Oyetola for ensuring that farmers/herders differences have not escalated into crises.
“We owe the Governor a lot of commendations because of all his efforts to ensure that we have always lived together in peace with Yoruba and other tribes in the State.
“He has told us that the door to his office is always open for us anytime. Their efforts have always help in preventing herders/farmers crisis in Osun State.”
The Serikin Fulani said herders who caused trouble were strangers and did not belong to the Fulani/Bororo community who have been living peacefully with Yoruba from time immemorial.
“I was born and bred here and married to a Yoruba from Osogbo. I have lived all my life here and I don’t know any other place so I cannot pray that any crisis erupts here because I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Also, speaking, Chairman of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Osun State, Alhaji Abdullahi Alilu said all resolutions at a meeting held with the government would be complied with to prevent farmers/herders crisis in the State.