Afenifere lashes out at Tinubu over his position on cattle grazing asking him to convert his Bourdilion home into a reserve

YORUBA socio-cultural group Afenifere has lashed out at All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his recent comments in which he backed called for the conversion of unused land into grazing reserves for Fulani cattle herdsmen.

Over recent years, Nigeria has been be-devilled with bloody clashes between well-armed herdsmen and local farming communities as pastoralists encroach on farmland to graze their cattle. Farming communities have demanded compensation for the damage to any crops and in return, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (Macban) have demanded that all unused land in the country be converted into grazing reserves.

Speaking at a seminar in Abuja on Monday, Asiwaju Tinubu echoed Macban's proposals, attributing the herdsmen crisis to limited water supplies. He added that if all the unused land across the country was made available to herdsmen, they would be able to find enough grass and water to cater for their livestock.

In a swift response, however, Afenifere publicity secretary Yinka Odumakin, said that Asiwaju Tinubu was free to play politics the way he liked but cautioned him against toying with people's lives by making outlandish propositions. He stated that the APC leader was only endorsing the Macban position to convert the entire country into a cattle colony.

Mr Odumakin said: “We totally reject this position as it is very backward in modern times and contrary to the consensus of all peace -loving Nigerians that what we need to solve the herdsmen's siege on farmers is to have ranches. Senator Tinubu has lived in very enlightened societies like the United States and Britain and if he was still living in any of such countries, would he suggest that grazing routes should be established at this age and time."

“We admonish him that he is free to play his politics the way it suits him but he should tread softly in playing games with the lives of our people by making outlandish propositions on issues which have been settled. Tinubu can give his residence in Bourdillon for a cattle colony but our people will not accept their land being converted into cattle grazing routes.”

Afenifere insisted that it stood on the recommendation of the 2014 National Conference which affirmed ranching as a way out of the herdsmen’s killings. Several governors in northern Nigeria have even volunteered land to be converted into cattle ranches in a bid to address the crisis.