With the aim of evolving a permanent solution to the herdsmen-farmers crisis in Oyo State, the Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday, constituted a committee to be headed by the Majority Leader, Honourable Kehinde Subair.
The Speaker, Honourable Michael Adeyemo, had charged the feuding parties, who appeared at the plenary following a summon to co-exist peacefully.
It was reported that the assembly had at its plenary on August 20 summoned the parties and some concerned stakeholders to appear before it.
Among them were the Permanent Secretary and Director, Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Commissioner of Police as well as representatives of the herdsmen and farmers. The motion was moved by Hon. Adebayo Olaleru (APC-Kajola).
Addressing the assembly, Mr Gabriel Kehinde, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, called for the provision of grazing reserves.
Mr Solomon Odedeji, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State Chapter, also supported the provision of grazing reserves. He also urged the assembly to caution traditional rulers, who he accused of conniving with the herdsmen because of pecuniary gains.
Odedeji also urged the assembly to prevail on the police to discharge their duties impartially. Alhaji Yakubu Bello, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Oyo State Chapter, said the session would foster unity among the parties.
Bello alleged that farmers in the state often lace their farmlands and crops with poison in other to kill their cattle. He also alleged that the grazing reserve at Ayete and Igangan areas of the state were not accessible because the community had ploughed the land to ward them off. Honourable Muideen Olagunju (Accord- Oyo East/Oyo West) urged the state government to provide more grazing reserves while the existing ones are adequately maintained.
Also speaking, Honourable Joshua Oyebamiji (Accord- Akinyele 1) called on stakeholders to consult agriculturists on how to provide alternative means of feeding cattle in the absence of grazing reserves.
The Speaker, on his part, called on traditional rulers and security agents to be more responsible in their conduct and not create discord among the people.
It was gathered that another motion by Honourable Olusegun Olaleye (APC-Ibadan North II) calling on the state government to order the state Ministry of Works and the road management agency to rehabilitate the Polytechnic-Ijokodo road was also discussed. Adeyemo adjourned plenary to October 8th.
