Oyo govt. pledges lasting solution to farmers/herdsmen feud

Oyo State Government has assured residents that it will find lasting solution to the incessant crisis between herdsmen and farmers across the state.

Alhaji Abidemi Siyanbade, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Relations said this while speaking with newsmen after a fact-finding meeting with farmers, community leaders and herdsmen in Ibarapa area of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was also attended by Mr Fatai Adesina, the State Commissioner for Liaison Affairs.

According to reports, the herdsmen had threatened to boycott the markets, while farmers also pledged to protect themselves and their people. Siyanbade said that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi had instructed him and his team to meet with the warring parties over the recent threats from both parties.

According to him, the team has also visited other communities with similar crisis in the state and expressed confidence that the crisis will soon be resolved. “The governor was not happy with the crisis between farmers and herdsmen in these communities. He asked us to meet with the warring parties and feed him back. “We have come and have heard from both parties now. We promise to convey your grievances to the governor and hope a proactive decision and lasting solution will be communicated soon,’’ he said.

Earlier, Chief Ademola Eyinade, a Community leader in Ibarapa Central Local Government frowned at the way the herdsmen invade and destroy farmlands in the communities, and commended the state government for its intervention. He said that the herdsmen had lived in the communities for several decades with no such crisis, adding that the recent destruction of farmlands and attack on their people was uncalled for.

“There is peace in Ibarapa Central. We have set up the joint committee which Gov. Abiola Ajimobi asked us to set up in all the councils and we are working effectively. “My advice is that the two parties should forget all that has happened in the past and start to live a new life. It is the herdsmen that are displaying that they are more aggrieved. “The farmers in Ibarapa Central and North are the ones suffering but they know the steps to take,” he said.

Eyinade said that there would be no problem if only the herdsmen could feed their cows on their own farmlands. According to him, the herdsmen in our communities have cultivated their farmlands, but have not been feeding their cows on it. “Our people cannot continue to suffer and you expect peace. We are peace loving people and we will continue to seek peace at all times. I am hopeful that the problem will be finally resolved before Easter.’’