A traditional ruler in the South-West, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland, has taken a different position from the apex Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere and Yoruba Council of Elders regarding the creation of cattle ranches for Fulani herders in the South-West.
He suggested that those kicking against the idea of ranching would only further fan the ember of discord and disunity in the country.
Oba Akanbi gave this warning at the ‘N2 billon Community Development Fund Raising’ organised by Mr Temitope Olatoye, a member of the House of Representatives representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State.
At the programme which held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, weekend, the monarch argued that land anywhere in the country belongs to all Nigerians and it is wrong to say Fulani herders should not be allowed to create cattle ranches in Yorubaland.
Oluwo wondered why those saying land should not be allocated for the creation of cattle ranches in Yorubaland did not oppose the establishment of other business interests by some northerners in the South-West zone of the country.
“More than half of the land mass of this country belongs to the North. The remaining is shared by the Southerners. We should look for unity. We should not discriminate. The land together is called Nigerian land, and it belongs to all of us. There should be no discrimination. That is why I call myself the Alaafin of Iwo, Ooni of Iwo, Alake of Iwo. We traditional rulers should be fathers to all”, the monarch said.
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