The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, on Wednesday denied that the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Bill, 2019, which had passed its second reading, was legislated to witch-hunt Fulanis.
Ogundoyin (PDP/Ibarapa-East) stated this on the floor of the house while reacting to insinuations that the bill was an attempt by the legislative to undermine the economic activities of the Fulanis spread across the state.
According to him, the bill was never intended to make life and business unbearable for the Fulanis in the state.
He said, “The Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Bill, 2019 before the 9th Oyo Assembly is significantly meant to regulate the activities of herders in Oyo State in the area of grazing and rearing of livestock.
“The bill seeks to prevent destruction of farms and properties by cows, prevent clashes between livestock owners and farmers, as well as protect the environment from degradation and pollution caused by open grazing,” he said.
Ogundoyin called on all Fulanis and herders in the state to go about their business activities without fear, urging them to be ready to abide by the provisions of the bill when fully operational.
He said that the bill would expose the fake and criminally-minded people who hide under the guise of herders or livestock owners to perpetrate evils, especially kidnapping and other heinous crimes.
(NAN)
