FARMERS/ HERDSMEN CLASH (WITH FOCUS ON ANTI-GRAZING LAW/ OUTRIGHT BAN ON OPEN GRAZING) SOLUTIONS – AN LECTURE DELIVERED BY JOHANNES TOBI WOJUOLA

FARMERS/ HERDSMEN CLASH (WITH FOCUS ON ANTI-GRAZING LAW/ OUTRIGHT BAN ON OPEN GRAZING) SOLUTIONS – AN LECTURE DELIVERED BY JOHANNES TOBI WOJUOLA ON THE EDO DIGICOMMS PLATFORM

The Farmers Herders clashes have climaxed in the past 2 years to a very ostensible level where it is now heard on the lips of everyone. From the keke driver, to the elite banker, to the security man, to the lawyer, everybody. The educated, the non-educated. Most times these commentators do not even know the depth and width of the crisis.

This crisis has been as old as several decades, even before some of our grandparents were born. Farmers and herdsmen have always had serious disagreements as to the use of resources.

But the most recent climaxed attacks have come from some remote causes. Some of which include the activities of herders entering into farms – which has been the most prominent so far; communal disagreements, where we have seen Community Leaders sell lands belonging to families, to herdsmen, creating violent clashes between families/ communities and herdsmen; cattle rustling; the nomadic lifestyle of the herdsmen also contributes to some of the crises we have been seeing; among others.

More recently the Anti-Open Grazing law has caused an unprecedented escalation of the crisis. It has been perceived by the herders community as a law that is anti-fulani, and against the inherent lifestyle of the Fulani herders community. In my view, this is rightly so.

The Law has clearly not provided the solution needed. It is more or less a one-sided legislation that does not cater for both sides of the conflict.

In a recent article I wrote on this, I described it as INCHOATE and INSUFFICIENT to tackle the issues presented by the conflict – which is majorly a socio-economic conflict bordering on land.

It protects one party to the conflict, that is the farmer. Forgeting that the herders are as much citizens as the farmers. And whose occupation should be protected as well.

Preventing movement of cattle through this law is like saying all cattle rearers should leave the state – we may have disagreements with the way and lifestyle of the herder, but this law does not do justice to one of the parties involved in this conflict. Thus creating room for conflicts. In every social setting, when one party to a conflict feels he has not been treated fairly the room for escalation of the conflict is left opened.

Now what would the herders have preferred, since the Anti-Open Grazing law breeds manifest injustice to them? Would they want OPEN GRAZING? They may, but nobody in this age would favor that. There must be an alternative to open-grazing. The most pragmatic and perhaps the best we have today is the Ranching options – and extensively the “Cattle Colony” option. Which has been largely misunderstood by commentators – mostly mischievously and deliberately.

Below is a paragraph  I have reproduced from my most recent article on Insecurity and the Farmers Herders Conflict on this Cattle Colonies policy:

“Take away the sentiments of the nomenclature, without misconstruing intent, the Federal Government’s suggestion of Cattle Colonies is another good start, if implemented well. And if all stakeholders buy in and play their part. Like ranches – albeit having the capacity to take up to 20 to 40 ranches in one co-location – the Colonies would provide a large expanse of land for herdsmen to ranch their cattle and avoid entering into farms. Water bodies, security and grass would also be provided for herdsmen in these colonies.”

Ranching in its various forms provides a ready solution to the clashes between farmers and herdsmen. It is the bedrock of solutions to the crises. Cattle colonies, a form of ranching, if put to practice and works would provide a long term solution to this age long conflict.

Being optimistic that ranching solutions would tackle the immediate problems to the herdsmen and farmers clashes, there would arise the inherent hurt that the both parties already feel. Remember that there have been several killings, reprisal attacks and perceived injustice felt by both parties. There must be an evident and deliberate move to reconcile all the parties.

In fact, I believe this is where the work is. For the conflicts to not resurface, even in other forms, farmers and herders must be reconciled and forgiveness from both parties must be sought.