By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
As the search for solutions to end the frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country continues, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe have canvassed divergent views on how to end the altercations.
The former Military leader posited that the best solution to end the frequent misunderstanding and clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the country lies in the official creation of grazing reserves across and in all states at designated places and areas by governments in all tiers.
He said since herdsmen are pastoralists, and they move in droves searching for greener pastures, it is incumbent that certain portions of grazing fields and water points are reserved for them by state governments as stop-gap in checking ugly altercations between them and farmers.
The former Head of State spoke Thursday at a round table he organized and hosted for the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Chief Audu Ogbe, the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the two Governors of Niger and Kebbi states, Abubakar Sani Bello and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu at his farm, the Maizube Farms along Minna-Bida road.
But in his views, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe said clashes between the two can only be stemmed if herdsmen resort to easier ways of sourcing for feeds for their flocks by using hews of Cassava leaves and other farm residues to feed their flocks and avoid confrontations with farmers over grazing fields.
Chief Ogbe disclosed that his Ministry was currently working on how to perfect the use of Cassava leaves which abounds almost everywhere across the country as feeds for Cattle and Sheep and suggested that herdsmen should use cassava leaves to feed their animals instead of graze the animals around in search of pastures.
Chief Ogbe explained that research by his Ministry has found out that Cassava leaves are very nutritious as feeds for flocks. He therefore advised that herdsmen should explore the use of the leaves which are often left to dry and rot away after harvests.
The Minister argued that in other climes, there are farmers including those who are engaged in large scale animal husbandry who domesticate their animals and do not allow them graze about for pastures.
He said herdsmen in the country should also learn how to confine their flocks to particular places and feed them. “The Fulani cattle breeders in the country should learn to do same” the Minister opined.
The points of departure between General Abdulsalami and the Minister was that all tiers of governments should provide grazing reserves with adequate water points to end clashes and wanton destruction of lives and properties by the herdsmen and farmers.
But both speakers had agreed that farmers and herdsmen play important roles in the economy of Nigeria. They reasoned also that to end the frequent clashes between cattle breeders and farmers, there is the need for all hands to be on the deck in the search for lasting solutions for peaceful coexistence.
In his submission, the former Head of State had argued that the frequency in clashes between the two was as a result of growth in urbanization with its attendant reduction in the availability of grazing lands for livestock.
He noted however that dialogue between relevant segments of the society as stakeholders, would bring to the barest minimum such incidences of Fulani and farmers’ clashes.
“Solution to the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen requires inputs from segments of the Nigerian society but not the government alone. We should join hands with government to resolve the crisis because we all live with both farmers and herdsmen”, he said.
He said governments at all levels should work hand in glove in providing grazing reserves with adequate water sources to check the face off, destruction of lives and property by the warring farmers and herdsmen across the country.
Abdulsalami who is a big time farmer, also suggested that in building grazing reserves, educational facilities for the children of the herdsmen should be provided to educate the children of the nomads. “
“In providing the grazing reserves for these herdsmen, governments should endeavour to build nomadic schools for the children of the herdsmen. This is very important”, he added.
Clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers is not peculiar to Nigeria alone as they occur in virtually all the West African countries according to General Abdulsalam who insisted that urgent steps must be taken to guarantee peaceful coexistence between the groups to enable them continue to make their contributions to the nation’s economy he said.
