Proposed Ranching Divides Ekiti Traditional Rulers |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

Traditional rulers in Ekiti state are presently entangled over the issue of proposed ranching by the federal government in states.

Early in the week, a group of traditional rulers acting under Majority Obas in Ekiti, said they were opposed to any form of ranching in Ekiti state and warned Governor Kayode Fayemi not to cede any part of the state for the project.

However, another group of monarchs, recognized by the state government, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers issued another statement on Thursday to counter the earlier one.

Majority Obas in Ekiti state is led by the Olomuo oke, Oba Vincent Otitoju and Onikun of Ikun Amure, Oba Olatunde Olusola as secretary.

The majority Obas claimed that Governor Kayode Fayemi has concluded arrangement to cede land to some people for cattle ranching or grazing.

Chairman of Ekiti state council of Obas, Oba Ajibade Alabi, in his reaction pointed out that “the allegation was not true as the Governor has no plans to cede an inch of our land to any group of people for ranching.”

Oba Ajibade, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, who is the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, made the clarification while reacting to a statement issued by the Olomuo Oke of Omuo Oke , HRM Oba Vincent Otitoju and Secretary, Onikun of Ikun Amure Ekiti Oba Olatunde Olusola and some Obas.

A statement by his media adviser, Chief Ajibade Olubunmi, stated that available information from Government revealed that the news making the round on plans to cede land was “meant to cause disaffection among our people.

“The Chairman of the Traditional Council therefore appealed to monarchs to show some circumspection in reacting to news culled from Social media in this era of misinformation,  disinformation and fake news.”

According to the Alawe, the State Council of Traditional Rulers at its next statutory meeting in April 2021 will be properly briefed by top Government officials on Government policy on Animal Husbandry.

“The Chairman of the State Traditional Council therefore, appealed to all traditional rulers and the various communities in Ekiti State to remain calm adding that there was no need for alarm or tension on ranching as the Governor has made it abundantly clear that no part of our land would be ceded.”