Akure Lawyer Writes Gov Akeredolu, Advises Him Against Ranching |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

An Akure based legal practitioner, Mr Kolawole Olabisi, has cautioned against attempt by Ondo State government to give out land for ranching or under any guise to Fulani herdsmen.

Olabisi, in an open letter to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, pointed out the implications of such gesture in future, which he said would be detrimental to people of the state.

“As a Governor and a very senior Lawyer (learned Silk) sir, you’re aware of the Nigerian Land law and how lands are acquired legitimately; it is definitely not by confiscation or by killing its owners!

“As stated above, the danger in all of this allocation of land to a business that all have agreed is private one like any other businesses is not right; it will ultimately leads to chaos in the future.

“Anyone who wants to rear his animal should get his land legitimately like any other business owners and pay the necessary dues and get all documentations from the authorities.

“Creating a land for herdsmen, given their tendency for usurpation, is tantamount to creating an additional State within a State for the Fulani in your State and with time, history will point to you as the man who sold your people to another Fodiyo in the 21st Century!

“A few examples of recent in the South West will suffice: In Oyo State, the Serikin Shasha. Alhaji Mai Yasin, is now almost as powerful as any of the Obas in the State; he is the only law the Fulani would listen to.

“Indeed, Governors have to pay him a visit in his domain of recent following the inter tribal clash. Ditto for the Serikin Fulani of Lagos who is now almost revered above the Eleko (Oba) of Lagos even at the international fora!

“Indeed, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu had to visit him in his Palace of recent and had suffered the indignity of a supposed Chief Executive of Lagos State standing up to address the nitwit who sat resplendent on his throne while the Governor addressed him and even had the effrontery to address the governor seated with one of his minions holding the microphone to his mouth while speaking!

“Mr. Governor, in Ondo State, you’re about to make another Serikin Shasha in the nearest future who will disdain whoever occupy your seat then. How will history paint you then?

“Going by their antecedent, the Fulani have their own crafty ways of penetrating into their host domains, later  becoming arch enemies to their host by forcefully taking over the leadership of those territories; Hausas are regretting their acceptance with Fodiyo till tomorrow.

“The nexus of the inherent problem in the creation of grazing land is for tomorrow. Just like it’s happening in some Shashas in the South today, the Fulani would bring in hordes of their kith and kin in truckloads in their million to populate the allocated land.

“And, given their proclivity for multiple recreation, the grazing land would, in no time, be bustling with people and, soon, they will install a Seriki who will in turn install his own lesser chiefs.

“Gradually, the Sharia lifestyle and customs would be forcefully enforced, and eventually, they won’t recognise any authority other than that of their own Seriki!

“Besides, the initial land to be allocated to them would not contain them and they will spill over all the State!

“Sir, kindly borrow a leaf from those State Governors down South and in the Middle Belt who have kicked against the decision and stop this journey into a chilly future for all of our children when our lands are taken over by this action as it surely will.

“It is better we insist owners of  the cows buy or lease land and ranch their cattle according to the laws of our land since it is a private business.

“The sad reality, Mr. Governor, is that already, many people have been sent packing from their farmlands by these Fulani herders and if you go ahead and give land to private business people for their ranches or whatever now, it will have a rippling effect later on.

“Kindly recollect sir the legions of commendations your initial resolve to oppose the ills being foisted on our people by these same Fulani you’re now granting land to had attracted. How do we now take this sudden 360 degree about turn?”