Opinion: THE GROUSE AGAINST GRAZING RESERVES AND CATTLE COLONIES – By SUNDAY EZE
The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe has found a new “answer” to the lingering problem of farmers/herders clashes. At a retreat organised recently by the ministry, Ogbe announced the introduction of cattle colonies throughout the country as panacea to the festering problem. This new solution came up as government’s efforts seem to be losing steam, having frantically tried without success to coerce states to cede lands for cattle grazing. Nothing new seems to have been added to the seemingly new solution from the minister. Call it grazing reserves or colonies; it is the same one and half pence. It is all about plans to forcefully allocate lands for personal business of the high and mighty and their collaborators in the country. Ogbe further maintained that a major discovery seen to have fueled farmers/ herders crisis was decades of neglect of cattle rearing business by government unlike maize and rice farming which have enjoyed the support of government with various incentives. Yes, maize and rice farmers enjoy soft loans guaranteed by government. Nothing also stops government from assisting cattle rearing sub sector with loans for their business to thrive. Central Bank could also include cattle rearing in the anchor-borrowers programme. It is individuals who own cattle not government. Therefore, government has no business in this assumed but surprise advocacy and responsibility for cattle owners. The duty of government is provision of enabling environment for business to thrive not the logistics for its successful operation as could be seen.
The missing narrative deliberately avoided by the mainstream media, government representatives and opinion leaders remains that those in government and their rich friends who own these cows have refused to take responsibility of their private businesses. Clothed in the garb of national security crisis, government has buckled under this orchestrated blackmail. Those who vehemently oppose grazing reserves or colonies were sure of the antics of cow owners and their friends in the corridors of power and influence at doing anything to have their way hiding behind government policies to confiscate their traditional lands for purely personal businesses. The resistance will not abate. Moreover, people are skeptical of ceding their lands for the value it adds to their overall well-being. Many have to be convinced of the good intentions of their would be neighbours who have been accused of masterminding the murderous killings going on unabated in the country. Therefore, the grouse against the newly introduced cattle colonies which are as old as the ones confronting grazing reserves and generating the tension is the same and will still remain.
In fact, many believe that there is a clannish protection of the fulani herders accused of almost all the killings going on. Government has also woefully failed to take decisive action against the audacity with which this group snuffs life out of innocent Nigerians. Drastic measures have not also been taken against those who herders allege steal their cows. The constant but unfortunate reaction on the crisis has been calls for harmonious co-existence and belated condolence messages. In the face of human lives lost, representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association were boldly seen granting press interviews demanding outright modification of the Anti-grazing law passed by Benue State House of Assembly as a prelude for peace to rein. They were also seen justifying why the killers have to kill with impunity and their reasons have not changed: communities and their victims stole their cows. Is killing the people the most appropriate way to recover stolen cows? If this group does not speak for the high and mighty, they should have been cooling their heels in the police cell. However, they are freely walking shoulders high the street of Nigeria. The baseline remains that human lives have been frequently lost for one reason and this dastardly act must stop immediately! Government should do more to protect lives and properties.
From 1951 when the first cattle ranch was established in Obudu to late 90s, government had ranches where cattle are bred. One of such ranches was situated in a village called Adada in Nkpologu, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu state in addition to piggery and poultry. Cattle in that ranch were bigger and healthier until the ranch folded up. Today, the same government is unwilling to direct private cattle owners to do same. The Nigerian Army is ranching at the moment. Why did they not allow theirs to roam about too with soldiers as herders? These herders (employees) work for cattle owners (employers) who arm them with sophisticated weapons as terms of reference to protect their cows from rustlers and the likes. Grass is green, rich and free in Nigeria. Those who create problem and seem to proffer solutions understand the dynamics of their businesses using herders as trouble shooters. Apart from allegations of deliberate attempt to islamise other parts of the nation through grazing reserves/colonies; people have lost confidence in the ability of the security agencies especially the police to protect their lives and properties. Without being immodest, one disturbing trend in the herders/farmers crisis has been the penchant for hiding the truth. Until the truth which has been hidden for so long is told is in clear terms, the end to this incessant crisis is never in sight. Cattle rearing is a trade and ideally owners have to take full responsibility. Instead they have been hiding behind the crisis to blackmail government to appropriate for themselves lands free of charge.
Allocation of land for any form of business does not fall under the purview of the federal government. Ironically, state governments in charge of lands which the federal government intends to allocate for either grazing reserves or colonies are not carried along in the decision making process. President Muhammad Buhari has a ranch. It was not allocated to him by underhand dealing or force of any policy or instrument of government. It is high time the fulani people who are largely traditional cattle owners, herders and pastoralists accepted their primary responsibility of caring for their cows. The high and mighty in Nigeria who own these cows too but are not necessarily fulani should also tow the same line. The Director, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, Olatokunbo Ige revealed that Nigeria accounts for 70% of arm proliferation in West Africa in 2016. She disclosed this at the National Consultation on Physical Security and Stockpile Management organised in conjunction with the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons. There is no certainty that this ugly trend on arms proliferation will abate soon. A time comes and it is imminent when farmers and communities alike will have no option than to defend and protect themselves with whatever means at their disposal including AK47. Nigerian leaders cannot be seen preaching one Nigeria with only its mouth but by treating all Nigerians equally without prejudice to their ethnicity or religion. By being fair, just, proactive, assertive in the face of threats to lives, properties and peaceful co-existence. Nigerians are discontent with the current situation and the nation is already inching close to an implosion. Those in position of authority should act fast to forestall the imminent danger lurking around.
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a Media and Communications Specialist is the publisher of thenewinsightng.blogspot.com. He wrote via [email protected] and can be reached on 08060901201
