AS part of effort to ensure food security and prevent incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in Ondo State, governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has said that the state government would resuscitate the old ranch established by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Akunnu Akoko in the Akoko North East local government area of the state.
Akeredolu, said the resuscitation of the ranch became necessary and timely because of the frequent clashes between the herdsmen and farmers in the state describing establishment of ranches as lasting solution to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in country.
He noted that nomadic cattle rearing had become obsolete saying ranches became necessary to guide against food insecurity and to forestall unnecessary clashes.
He said that with ranches, the livestock would be healthier, more productive, while the herdsmen would avoid unnecessary attacks.
Akeredolu assured that the present administration in the state would take decisive actions to put an end to perpetration of the crimes, advising the people to go about their daily businesses without any fear of attack.
The governor said “our state has had her share of the crisis but not on the horrendous scale whose odious effect continues to reverberate throughout the country.”
“We will not tolerate any act of brigandage. We will defend the right of our people to engage in farming without let or hindrance of any sort.
“We will sanction with impassioned severity any acts which seek to tilt the balance of harmonious coexistence in the State towards anarchy. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on criminal elements.
“Security forces have been fully mobilised to prevent the nefarious activities of nation wreckers in our State. We will protect our citizens with such fervor as expected of true representatives.
“We, therefore, enjoin our people to go about their normal businesses and report, promptly, any suspicious movement of undesirable elements in their communities.
“All of us owe our country a duty to ensure peace while not ignoring issues of justice and equity.”
The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, assured that Federal government will join hands with the state government to ensure the success of the project.
Ogbeh said the intervention is timely saying, “we can grow our own cattle if Akunnu Akoko ranch comes alive, it is a good development and the Federal government will join hands with the Ondo state government.
“We can also grow our own grass, teach people how to grow grass and sell grass. Feedmill will be established here to ensure that animals are well fed and discourage open attacks.”
and then