The Aare of Ofiki Land, Alayelua, Oba Adeoye Gbenga Adigun Oyinlola II, JP has hinted on some steps to be taken to curb the menace of Fulani herdsmen in Oke Ogun and Yoruba land at large.
The traditional ruler in a release he personally signed and made available to insideoyo.com said some traditional rulers are not innocent in the issue. He also added that indigenous Fulani are not helping the situations as well.
“It’s highly saddened when you hear or see the horror and pains the Fulani marauders inflict on our people and other foreigners farming or trading in our domain.
“For about two years since my installation, I have handled different cases of malicious damages of farmlands to which I have stood my ground for justice and fairness.
“Where necessary, I have made arrests and driven the intruders. Amazingly, the longstanding indigenous Fulani’s are not helping situations and even foreigners farming on our lands. Not until farmlands are destroyed no report of trespass would be reported. Seat of traditional rulers are not also clean on the issue.” he said
The traditional ruler whose territory falls in Atisbo Local Government Area in the Oke Ogun Area of Oyo state also narrated findings from his personal research on why the menace still strives despite numerous measures put into place to curb it.
“From my investigation, our politicians and the system of governance is the root cause of inability to address or curb the menace. Most traditional rulers are not engage in any economic activities before ascending the throne. With mentality of kings restricted from some daily engagements, they opt for land allocation over years.
“To make the matter worse, our political office holders do not have good welfare package for the traditional institution. The statutory 5% on allocation for the traditional institution are denied instead they give us peanuts which is ridiculous.
“Also, the well to do indigenes who live outside the towns fail to invest back home to occasionally visit their kings with the aim of identifying with the community maybe once in a year or as they please to discuss on development issues instead we are all crying speaking grammars on social Media.
Insecurity has engulfed our land and we are all living in fear and seated on kegs of gunpowder.” he said.
Oba Adeoye while urging people to stop playing the blame game suggested some steps like restructuring, regionalism and others to be taken to put an end to the menace.
“My opinion and solution is that we need to stop the blame game on the traditional rulers.
“First, restructuring of the nation and our political structures are non-negotiable. Yoruba political leaders and political appointees should think of our land first before anything.
“We need to go back to regionalism and embrace the founding fathers templates which gives role to traditional rulers in governance. We are the custodians of the land, ethics, values and the people. Each community or towns in the regions needs would be addressed.
“Agriculture is our occupation. Let government finance our people, provide the needs of the farmers, give them loans and good farm insurance scheme. Protect the people through regional policing, empower the youths and women. Improve the standard of the schools.
Also, Governors, indigents, or wealthy individuals should establish cottage firms, industries on the vacant arable lands.
“The Fulani marauders trespass because the borders are porous, the lands vacant and the custodians helpless and in need. So as a matter of fact, if my suggestions could have space in the hearts of those in helms of affair and concerned indigents then the noise will stop and the killers will vacate our lands.” he added.
While using the medium to felicitates with Muslims on the celebration of Sallah, the monarch also wished Governor Seyi Makinde best of luck in piloting the affairs of Oyo state and urged him to consider constructing Agunrege- Ofiki – Irawo and Ago Aare – Ofiki road.
“I wish His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde best of luck in his bid to make the state especially Oke Ogun food basket and economic hub of the nation.
“I urge him to put into consideration as he’s fulfilling his campaign promises to help us fix the Agunrege- Ofiki – Irawo and Ago Aare – Ofiki road which is currently in bad shape.” he concluded.
