SOME traditional rulers in Ondo State on Thursday asked Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to make his position known on the plan of the Federal Government to establish cattle colonies and grazing reserves in all the 36 states of the country.

The monarchs under the aegis of 130 Krown Club said they would resist any attempt by the state government to cede lands in their domains for the proposed project.

They spoke after a meeting at the palace of Oba Idowu Faborode, the Ogbolu of Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

Oba Olusegun Akinbola, the Aladeokun of Idanre; Owa-Ale of Ikare-Akoko, Oba Samuel Adedoyin-Adegbite and Olupe of Ipe-Akoko, Oba Francis Makanjuola Apata,  expressed fears about the various attacks of Fulani herdsmen in different parts of the state.

Oba Samuel Adedoyin-Adegbite, Owa-Ale of Ikare-Akoko, expressed worry over what he described as the infiltration of Fulani herdsmen in the state.

Oba Adedoyin-Adegbite said about four truck loads of herdsmen from Iseyin in Oyo State were brought to Akoko land last week.

The monarch said it took the intervention of all the traditional rulers in Akokoland to ensure that security men came to evacuate the herdsmen from the area.

“We reject cattle colony in any part of Ondo State. The Land Use Decree of 1978 vests the ownership of land on the governors.

“The Federal Government does not have land unless offshore. The governor of Ondo State should take a position on cattle colony. We cannot cede any of our lands,” he said.

Olupe of Ipe-Akoko, Oba Francis Makanjuola Apata, in a communiqué read on behalf of the monarch, urged the State House of Assembly to support the clamour for local government autonomy.

Oba Apata disclosed that traditional rulers in the state would summon all the members of the Assembly from their constituencies and plead with them to throw their weight behind the proposal anytime the issue comes out for consideration.

He reiterated the call for restructuring of the country in such a way that would allow the six geo-political zones to have autonomy and their constitutions.

– Feb.  15, 2018 @ 20:55 GMT |