From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has inaugurated a 20-man Peace Keeping Committee on the clashes between herders and farmers in the state.
Inaugurating the committee headed by a former member of the House of Representatives, Kayode Oladele, yesterday at the Obas’ Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Abiodun mandated members of the panel to determine the cause of the ethnic clashes in Yewaland, the losses and recommend how to forestall recurrence.
He gave the committee comprising state security chiefs, traditional rulers, lawmakers, government officials, representatives of Fulani herdsmen and farmers, four weeks to submit its report.
The governor said that government would roll out palliatives for the victims of the clashes to cushion the effect of their losses.
He added that some victims displaced due to the crisis would be provided with shelter.
Speaking on his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday at the State House, Abuja, Abiodun explained that the president was impressed with the approach adopted in tackling the crisis in the state.
The governor said Buhari equally recommended “the model” to other states in the resolution of farmers and herders’ clashes.
“I am pleased to say that Mr. President was very impressed with the way we managed and handled the situation, to the point where he has recommended our model to be adopted in the resolution of such crisis in other parts of the country,” Abiodun said.
Whether we like it or not it is no longer news that the fulanis(under the guise of herdsmen) are now above the law.they are not pretending about it.their umbrella groups make press statements giving their own conditions otherwise the terror will continue.events of 19th century are being recast in another way.unfortunately some host communities,states and governments are intimidated and therefore concede to parleys with people who are proudly wrecking havoc while the law looks the other way.this is the cowardly acts that takes the impetus of these guys to another level.a businessman(a herder) deploys his cattles to destroy the goods of another businessman (a farmer).rather than hold the herder for trespassing and breach of peace,the farmer is adviced to dialogue with the herder and this dialogue is being done at state levels.in other words,anytime the herders need more concession/attention they will adopt violence(and this has become a deliberate strategy).a herder (be it fulani or igbo) is a private businessman and cannot give their host communities his own terms for his business otherwise he will kill everybody in such communities.certainly not acceptable.let the herders do their business within the confines of the law.