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Oyo APC aspirant, Akande proffers solution to herdsmen crisis

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A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo state, Prof. Adeolu Akande, has suggested ranching as the only solution to farmers/herdsmen’s crisis .

Akande, who was recently inaugurated as Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Information ‎Technology Development Agency, NITDA, averred that if that is adopted, herdsmen crisis will stop being a major source of inter-ethnic tension.

Speaking recently on the topic entitled “Grazing Reserve Bill: An Elixir to recent crisis between Fulani herdsmen and farmers at an event organised by the Students Representatives Council of the Lead City University, Ibadan, ‎Akande said the grazing reserve bill is a proposal frozen in time.

According to him, ‎”the elixir to the frequent conflict between farmers and herdsmen is to adopt the ranching model which will keep the herds of cattle away from the farms of farmers and away from our roads. It will not only guarantee peaceful co-existence of farmers and herdsmen, it will also stop being a major source of inter-ethnic tension. Finally, it  will also enhance productivity of livestock and contribute to food security in Nigeria and the west Africa sub-region.”

“The activities of herdsmen have become worrisome in recent times. There have been reported cases of farmer-herdsmen attacks across the country. Many people commit heinous crimes in the name of herdsmen. The spate of atrocities masterminded by herdsmen has continued to threaten national integration vis and vis national security. It further intensifies suspicion between ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. The Fulbe/Fulani usually graze cattle, goats, and sheep and live throughout the Sahel region, in Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Northern Nigeria. At the end of the rainy season, the pastoralists move southward from the Sahara Desert. Mobility enables pastoralists to get the most out of the sporadic rainy seasons that are characteristic of these dry lands.

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“Another factor responsible for conflict between pastoralists and farmer is that grazing resources including pasture and water are found in different places at different times of the year, hence the need for constant mobility among cattle herders for opportunistic resource use.

“The incidence of herdsmen/farmers conflict in Nigeria has been accentuated by the factors of climate change which has made it imperative for Fulani herdsmen to stay longer, if not permanently, in the North Central and Southern part of the country because of green pasture for their cattle. There is also the dislocation caused by the disappearing Lake Chad which had shrunk from about 400,000 square kilometres according to earliest records to 26,000 square kilometres in 1960 and 1,750 square kilometres today. This has pushed herdsmen who relied on the Lake Chad region for pasture to move down south in search of pasture.

“There is also the conflict that had traversed the northern fringe of West Africa which has made the entire region unsafe for pastoralists and their stock. Again, such displaced pastoralists found refuge in the southern fringe of West Africa. Another major consequence of the conflict in the region is that herdsmen who had to arm themselves to secure themselves and their stock  in the dangerous terrain of civil war soon  found arms a natural companion as they traversed the sub-region such that even when they arrive at relatively peaceful zones such as  southern Nigeria, they had become so accustomed to the  company of their arms that they found it difficult to live without them. Finally, the rampaging Boko Haram Conflict in the North Eastern part of the Nigeria also forced the emigration of herdsmen who also moved southwards for their safety and that of their stock. The combined effect of all of this is that there was more demand for pasture than the relatively fixed land in central and Southern Nigeria could provide. There was more demand than supply and the consequence is frequent conflict between host farmer communities and the Fulani herdsmen”, he continued.

The ex- Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state stressed further that the grazing reserve bill “is conceived with the business model of centuries-old cattle rearing method in view. This method is fixated with the notion that agriculture could only be done within the natural provision of rain water hence the pastoralists have to migrate in response to the raining season. It does not have to be so. The leading countries in beef production in the world do not rely on the rain for their livestock.

“The dominant business model in those countries is the ranching method where investors buy land space to nurture their stock. This has the advantage of keeping livestock under control and without threat to the farmland of other people. The other advantage is that cattle that are nurtured in such ranches are much more productive that the ones exposed to the torture of walking hundreds and thousands of kilometres in search of pasture. Research has shown that cows nurtured in ranches have better nutrients that the ones that ate exposed to hundreds of kilometres of walk. Also, the milk production by cows nurtured in ranches is much more than the milk produced by roaming cattle. For instance, an average cow in Brazil produces 40 litres of milk per day compared to the 10 litres produced by the roaming cattle in Nigeria.

‎‎”The major cause of frequent conflicts between the farmers and herdsmen is the contest for the control of land resource which both of them  need for their economic enterprises but which unfortunately are not in equal supply as the demand for it.

“The notion of the bill is that if grazing reserves are established and grazing zones delineated, it will guarantee the pastoralists of the pasture for their stock. This provision is fraught with many challenges. The first is that the issue it seeks to address, that is, the control of livestock in neither in the exclusive nor the concurrent legislative list of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).This indicates that the National Assembly before which the bill is proposed does not have the power to make laws on the matter. The states, rather than the federal government, have such powers.

“The second assumption is that by taking over land across the states and turning them into grazing reserves, the frequent conflict between farmers and herdsmen will be reduced. That stands logic on its head. As noted in the earlier part of this paper, land is considered the heritance of the family in Nigeria, just as in most part of Africa. The confiscation of the land of a community, by whatever name it is called, and the offer of same to some other people for their own economic enterprise will only accentuate inter-ethnic tension and conflict. The communities disposed of their land will only view the opportune group as impostors and will be so disposed to engaging them in clashes at the slightest provocation.

“Besides, the history of indigenes/settlers conflict in Nigeria have shown that settlers who are given access to land by host communities soon claim equal right to such land especially when succeeding generations of the original settlers who have lost contact with their original places of birth soon lay claim to the indigene ship of their new abodes. Such claims are difficult to fault in the contests of the Nigerian Constitution that guarantees that every Nigerian can live wherever he chooses to reside or where descendants of such settlers have indeed lived for hundreds of years in the new home embraced by their immediate ancestors.

  1. “Finally, the practice of the pastoralists traversing hundreds of kilometres as they migrate in search of pasture for their stock which the Grazing Bill seeks to preserve by demarcating and protecting Stock Routes is a recipe for crisis. Experience has shown that it is not in all instances that the pastoralists are able to keep their stock on the route. Cows do stray from the herd and destroy farmlands, instigating crisis between farmers and herdsmen,” he proferred.

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‎Bode Market Inferno: ‘You Are Not Alone,’ Oseni Tells Victims, Donates ₦20m, Seeks FG Intervention

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District in the 2027 general election and member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has donated ₦20 million to victims of the recent fire outbreak at the Bode Traditional Herbs and Other Products Market, popularly known as Iso Alagbo, in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State, while assuring the affected traders of additional intervention from the Federal Government.

‎Oseni made the donation during a sympathy visit to the market on Monday, where he met traders whose shops, traditional herbs, medicinal products and other valuables were destroyed by the devastating inferno. His message of hope and support was contained in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan.

The federal lawmaker said he visited the scene to personally identify with the victims, describing the incident as a painful tragedy that had wiped out years of hard work and investments, leaving many families devastated and uncertain about their future.

‎”Today, I visited the Bode Traditional Herbs and Other Products Market, popularly known as Iso Alagbo, to personally identify with our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who suffered devastating losses in the recent fire incident. Walking through the ruins and listening to the heartbreaking stories of the affected traders was deeply emotional,” Oseni said.

‎According to him, many of the traders watched helplessly as years of sacrifice and labour went up in flames, noting that what the victims lost extended far beyond goods and property.

‎”For many families, what was destroyed was not just merchandise but their means of livelihood and hope for a better tomorrow. I could see the pain in their eyes and hear the despair in their voices. This is a tragedy that calls for compassion and collective support,” he added.

The chairman , House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) stressed that leadership must be measured not only by words of sympathy but by practical actions capable of restoring hope to people in times of adversity.

‎”In moments like this, leadership must go beyond words of sympathy. It must be demonstrated through compassion, presence and meaningful support. That is why I have come not only to sympathise with the victims but also to stand with them through tangible assistance,” he said.

‎To cushion the immediate hardship occasioned by the disaster, the APC senatorial candidate  donated ₦20 million to the affected traders, acknowledging that while no amount of money could adequately compensate for the huge losses suffered, the intervention was intended to provide immediate relief and help many victims begin the difficult process of rebuilding their businesses.

‎The lawmaker also assured the victims that he would engage relevant authorities at the federal level to facilitate additional intervention for those affected, saying every available avenue would be explored to ensure the traders receive the support needed to recover from the unfortunate incident.

‎”We will continue to engage the appropriate authorities at the federal level to seek additional intervention and support for those affected. We will explore every available avenue to ensure our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters are not left alone to bear this burden. Together, we will overcome this challenge,” Oseni assured.

‎He commended the resilience of the affected traders despite the painful losses and prayed for divine restoration for every victim.

 “To every trader affected by this unfortunate incident, please know that you are not alone. Your resilience inspires us. I pray that Almighty God grants everyone the strength to recover, restores every loss and continues to protect our communities from tragedies of this nature. By His grace, hope will rise again, businesses will flourish again and brighter days will surely return,” he said.

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Presidency to EFCC, DSS, Police: Expose insiders behind fake presidential agency

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The Presidency on Friday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to identify and prosecute officials who allegedly collaborated with Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew in operating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, a body it described as non-existent.

It also accused the suspect of attempting to drag the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, into what it described as a criminal enterprise through a sustained smear campaign.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, disclosed this in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Friday.

According to Ajayi, investigations must go beyond Adeniyi to uncover those within government institutions who allegedly facilitated his activities.

He said, “What is not in doubt is that internal collaborators enabled Adeniyi to get this far. That is precisely what investigators from the DSS, the Police and the EFCC must now unravel.

“The criminal network within the affected institutions must be dismantled, and everyone found to have played a role should be arrested and prosecuted.”

The presidential spokesman described Adeniyi as “an irredeemable con artist,” accusing him of exploiting public perception about corruption to divert attention from the allegations against him.

He said, “In Nigeria, the easiest and most believable allegation anyone can throw at a public officer is corruption. Once that accusation is thrown into the mix, the water is polluted, the lines are blurred, and everyone is kept busy arguing over distractions rather than the real issues.

“Matthew Adeniyi understands Nigerian public psychology, and he is exploiting it expertly to shield himself. He is an irredeemable con artist who is attempting to drag the name of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, into his criminal enterprise. The Chief of Staff is simply his last straw.”

Ajayi further alleged that investigators must establish how Adeniyi allegedly forged presidential appointment letters, operated 34 bank accounts in the names of fictitious government agencies, hosted foreign ambassadors and opened a Central Bank account while allegedly parading himself as the Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

He maintained that exposing those who aided the suspect was crucial to dismantling what he described as a criminal network operating within public institutions.

As of the time of filing this report, Adeniyi had yet to publicly respond to the latest allegations by the Presidency.

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Oseni distributes agric inputs to 7,000 farmers, says Tinubu deserves second term

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Thousands of farmers across Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State received a major boost on Monday as the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, distributed agrochemicals, farm tools and other agricultural inputs to no fewer than 7,000 beneficiaries.

The intervention, aimed at boosting food production and cushioning the impact of rising production costs on farmers, is the latest in a series of agricultural support initiatives facilitated by the federal lawmaker to strengthen farming activities across the constituency.

Before the latest distribution, Oseni had supplied no fewer than six trailers of fertiliser to farmers in Ibarapa East and Ido Local Government Areas to improve crop yields, enhance productivity and support increased agricultural output.

Speaking during the distribution programme held in Ibadan, the All Progressives Congress chieftain said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its commitment to tackling hunger, enhancing food security and improving the livelihoods of Nigerians through increased agricultural production.

‎According to him, the intervention is designed to encourage more people to embrace farming, expand cultivation and contribute meaningfully to national food production.

‎”About 7,000 people are benefiting from today’s empowerment programme. The essence is to continue encouraging farmers within the federal constituency by providing them with the necessary support to improve their productivity,” Oseni said.

‎He stressed that sustained investment in agriculture remained critical to addressing food shortages, reducing the cost of food and strengthening the nation’s economy, noting that agriculture continues to be one of the most viable pathways to sustainable economic growth and national development.

‎The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) explained that the earlier distribution of six trailers of fertiliser, the current supply of agricultural inputs and the rehabilitation of rural roads were all part of a comprehensive strategy to improve farming activities and ensure that farmers had the resources and infrastructure required to maximise production during the farming season.

‎He noted that improving access to quality farm inputs, alongside better rural road networks, would enable farmers to cultivate larger portions of land, transport their produce more easily and ultimately increase food availability across the country.

Oseni also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would secure a second term in office in the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, the economic reforms and policy decisions introduced by the Tinubu administration have laid a solid foundation for economic recovery, infrastructure development and improved governance, making the President the preferred choice of many Nigerians ahead of the next general election.

‎”No opposition can stop Nigerians from re-electing President Bola Tinubu. Nigerians need a God-fearing leader like him to continue the work of rebuilding the country.

‎”Since President Tinubu assumed office, fuel scarcity has become a thing of the past. States that previously struggled to pay workers’ salaries now do so more conveniently. Our tax system has been reformed, while road infrastructure and other development projects are expanding across the country,” he said.

‎The lawmaker further pledged to mobilise widespread grassroots support for the President through the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF), expressing confidence that the group would deliver one million votes for Tinubu in Oyo State during the 2027 presidential election.

‎He urged traditional rulers, community leaders, party faithful and other critical stakeholders to rally behind the President’s re-election bid, insisting that one term would not be sufficient to consolidate the reforms already initiated by the current administration.

Oseni also appealed to eligible Nigerians who were yet to register or collect their Permanent Voter Cards to do so ahead of the 2027 general election.

‎He encouraged citizens to participate actively in the electoral process and support President Tinubu and candidates of the All Progressives Congress, saying continued support for the administration would ensure the consolidation of ongoing reforms and accelerate national development.

Earlier in his remarks, the Onido of Ido, Oba Gbolagade Babalola, commended the lawmaker for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would significantly support farmers and boost agricultural production in the constituency.

The monarch urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the farm inputs to maximise their productivity and improve their livelihoods.

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