Amosun opposes Buhari on grazing zones

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has ‎said he is not in support of the proposed creation of grazing zones across the country by the Federal Government.
He said this on Friday at his Oke Mosan office, Abeokuta, while receiving the technical committee on herdsmen/farmers clashes set up by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin.
Amosun argued that grazing zones could not solve the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers, adding that he would rather support the establishment of cattle ranches, by cattle herders as a lasting solution to the conflict.

He described the formation of the technical committee as timely and a step in the right direction.
He said, “People have suggested a number of solutions. But, for me, I would not support creation of grazing zones. They (cattle herders) should take it as a business, probably building ranches‎ privately. We should not try to solve a problem by creating another one.”
The governor urged Nigerians to embrace peace, stating that nothing could be solved with violence.
Amosun advised security agencies to investigate the nationality of the killer herdsmen, if indeed they were from neighbouring countries as being alleged in some quarters.
The head of the technical committee, Major-General Edward Nze, said the panel was set up by the Chief of Defence Staff at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country was becoming a threat to national security‎.
As part of measures to tackle the menace, Nze ‎said “Operation Accord” would be inaugurated by the military authorities.
Ahead of the operation, he explained that the technical committee had also visited some affected states, including Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Zamfara, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo.
While in Ogun, Nze said, the delegation would meet with relevant stakeholders towards finding lasting solutions to the herdsmen and farmers clashes, which reared its ugly head occasionally in some Yewa area of the state.