Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti
State, has said that there is no going back on the law that regulated
cattle grazing in the southwestern state titled, Prohibition of Cattle
and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016.
Governor Fayose made this declaration at
the the signing of an agreement between the state government and
Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in Ado
Ekiti on Thursday, November 4, 2016.
The meeting was also a peace parley
attended by traditional rulers and leaders of the Fulani community.
While issuing a 14-day ultimatum for herdsmen to register, Fayose
ordered the immediate release of cows already seized by the grazing
marshals, but warned that any further violation of the law would not be
tolerated.
Governor Ayodele Fayose meets with the Fulani community in Ekiti on
November 3, 2016 over the grazing regulation bill. Cattle breeders
association signing a peace agreement at Ado Ekiti | Ekiti State Photos
At the peace parley meeting held in the
presence of traditional rulers and leaders of Fulani communities, Fayose
ordered the release of nine cows earlier seized by his government for
illegal grazing.
Under the provision of the law, which
was signed into law in August 29, anyone interested in cattle rearing in
Ekiti must register with state government through traditional rulers,
the governor revealed.
Also, under the law, anyone found
violating the bill, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to six months in
prison without an option of fine.
The law also provides that any farm
products destroyed by the activities of any caught herdsman shall be
estimated by agricultural officer and the expenses of the estimate shall
be borne by the culprit.
Despite threats from MACBAN to wage war against the state,
the governor had inaugurated the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals
with a warning that cattle found grazing after 6pm would be confiscated
by the state government.
FULL TEXT OF THE ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY THE EKITI STATE GOVERNOR, MR AYODELE FAYOSE DURING A
MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE MIYETTI ALLAH CATTLE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION OF
NIGERIA TODAY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016.
I welcome you to this meeting, which is
in furtherance to our quest to find a lasting solution to the menace of
herdsmen and safeguard the lives and properties of all residents of
Ekiti State.
Interestingly, I am wearing two caps
today because I am addressing you both as the governor and also as a
cattle farmer. Many of you might be unaware that I also rear cattle like
you. I have 83 cows too and I have told the person taking care of them
that if he goes against the law and any of them is seized, he will be
responsible.
Like I have maintained, I do not have
anything against the Fulanis or any tribe in Nigeria. It is on record
that during my first term, I appointed a man from Malunfashi as a
Special Adviser. This term too, I appointed Musa Kanga into the Pilgrims
Welfare Board, a Igbo man is a councillor in Ward 10 and Ado Local
Government.
Rather, my concern as a governor and
custodian of the popular mandate of Ekiti State is to protect the lives
and properties of all residents of the State, irrespective of their
tribe, religion and political party.
It is in pursuit of this vital
responsibility of government that we have chosen to control cattle
grazing in Ekiti State and it is being done in other civilised countries
of the world. Or are cattle breeders leading their cattle across city
centres and major roads, with the cows defecating everywhere in cities
like London, New York, Paris, or even Accra in Ghana and Mecca in Saudi
Arabia?
Let me therefore reiterate that there is
no going back on the total enforcement of the Prohibition of Cattle and
other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Law, 2016, which came into force
on August 29, 2016. It is a law that all residents of Ekiti State must
obey.
A situation where herdsmen go about with
arms is not acceptable to us here in Ekiti and herdsmen found with arms
will be arrested and charged with terrorism.
If we are encouraging our people to
embrace farming by giving lands to them to farm through the creation of
Land Banks in the 16 Local Councils, and many of them have borrowed
money to invest in farming, when these farmlands being cultivated with
borrowed funds are destroyed by herdsmen, who are also engaged in their
own form of farming, how do we get others to embrace farming?
In Oke Ako-Ekiti last May, two persons
were killed, people’s wives raped by those hiding under the guise of
rearing cattle and I expected then that leaders of the Miyetti Allah
will show greater concern, but that never happened.
I was therefore miffed when I read in
the newspapers that the Miyetti Allah threatened a reprisal attack on
the government and people of Ekiti State and I, as the one the people
elected to provide them must not shy away from that responsibility of
protecting the people against any aggressor.
When I heard that you were coming to
invade our land, we were also prepared for you people because I am not
one of the governors that are afraid of anyone.
Some people, because of politics took
leaders of Miyetti Allah in Abuja to the Presidential Villa and I ask
them, is Ekiti the same as Abuja? Is Senator Babafemi Ojudu who met
Miyetti Allah in the Villa in Abuja the governor of Ekiti State? Did he
take any step when his own people were attacked and killed?
As I speak to you today, I am
reiterating that Ekiti people and all residents of the State will be
protected with everything within my power. That is my duty as a governor
and I will perform it without fear or favour.
I however appreciate the fact that you
have now seen reasons that you should cooperate with the government to
enforce the anti-grazing law. I am glad that you have now realised that
strict compliance with the law is in the interest of all of us.
On the claim that the Ekiti Grazing
Enforcement Marshals were shooting cows, let me state here that it is a
white lie from those whose interest is bitter politics.
As cattle farmers, which I am one, we
must realise that we are not different from other farmers. We are not
also different from other businessmen who own business premises where
they transact their businesses. If fish farmers are providing their own
ponds and poultry farmers building their own pens, while also buying
feed for their animals, there is no reason we as cattle farmers should
not also provide our own ranch and feed our cows without encroaching on
other people’s farmlands and properties.
Therefore, you have a duty to join in
the crusade to free our State from the menace of herdsmen. You must
expose those hiding under cattle grazing to perpetrate crimes like armed
robbery, murder, rape and wilful destruction of people’s properties.
It was in view of this new approach that
I directed the suspension of activities of the Ekiti Grazing
Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) till today, so as to enable the free
movement of your cattle to designated ranches in the State and I am sure
that must have been done.
Today, I am giving cattle farmers in the
State 14 days to register with traditional rulers in the communities
where they are operating while the traditional rulers will forward the
registered herdsmen to the State government.
Once again, I thank you for your support
and as your governor, I make bold to say expressly that even as cattle
farmers, it is my duty to protect your lives and properties and no
matter the situation, I will never shy away from this responsibility.
Thank you.
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