Ranch creation in Nigeria will produce nothing, if herdsmen are not first educated - Oluwo advises FG

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The Oluwo of Iwoland, Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has said that for the federal government's proposal to create ranches in the 36 states in Nigeria to yield its intended result, herdsmen must first be educated, since ranching in itself is an aspect of mechanised agriculture.

Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba, On Monday, July 9, said that the federal government's move to create ranches across the country will produce little or nothing is the herdsmen are first not educated, since according to him, ranching is a modern system of rearing livestock.

The Oluwo also dismissed media reports that he slammed the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and pan-Yoruba group, Afenirefe’srejection of the federal government’s bid to create ranches throughout Nigeria, Punch reports.

In a statement by Alli Ibraheem, his press secretary, the Oluwo said he was quoted out of context, stressing that he did not flay the Yoruba elders.

Instead, he said that his position was that the ethnic discrimination must not be allowed to mar Nigeria's unity.

Quoting the Oba, Ibraheem said: “There was never a time in history that Oluwo faulted any anti-grazing agitators. His position, as a first-class paramount ruler and a father to the nation, was for one Nigeria. Oluwo only called the attention of every Nigerian to the side of unity, to see ourselves and soil as one.

“Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. The word Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo are discriminatory. All should be fused as Nigerian for peace and unity to survive.”

“If we claim that some land belongs to a section, are we saying Aliko Dangote should relocate his businesses to the North? Are we saying the westerners in the North should relocate their businesses because Kano is not their land? No. We need a change of direction. If not now, when will it be?”

With regards to how important it is to educate herdsmen before the creation of ranches, Oluwo said most herdsmen were actually illiterate who know very little about mechanised agriculture.

The Oluwo to urged the federal government to “launch an aggressive training on ranching before making any request or promulgation on the system.”

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Oba Akanbi said: “Ranching is a modern practice of cattle rearing as applicable in advanced nations. Nigeria is also developing. We need meat and food from our farms. It is a symbiotic relationship. To avert this menace, Nigerians should be one irrespective of location attachment.”

Earlier, NAIJ.com reported that the Oluwo had faulted the Afenifere group and the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) on their rejection to the creation of cattle ranches for herdsmen in the southwest as proposed by the federal government.

Akanbi said the position of the apex Yoruba socio-cultural organisation will generate rancour and disunity throughout country.

Osinbajo Oighlights Reasons for Incessant Herdsmen Troubles, Proffers Solution | NAIJ.com TV