OBSERVATION : FARMERS, FULANI HERDSMEN AND THE PATH TO LASTING PEACE

In 2013, my favourite lecturer. Prof. A.T Shehu of Al Hikmah University, Ilorin (formerly of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin) advised me to consider pursuing Animal rights in my doctoral degree. According to Prof. Shehu, there is scarcity of academics on animal rights worldwide let alone nationwide. I thought about the matter but couldn't find a convincing ground for me to choose animal rights even though, such research endeavour will reveal the meeting point between animal rights and rights of the indigenous people. I was mindful of the fact that one's discipline, to a greater extent, affect one's thinking. As a corollary, there is the tendency to be emotional and passionate about animal issues.

The unending conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and Farmers in different parts of the country has brought to the fore, the necessity to have experts in animal rights and other related disciplines like veterinary medicine. So much havoc have been caused as a result of the recalcitrant attitude of the Fulani Studentsn. The media is awash of such stories the latest being the Agatu killings.

The resolution of the conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Ogbomosland was the focus of the Peace meeting that the Chairman of Orire Local Government, Hon. Bamigboye invited Yours sincerely. The meeting was attended by various stakeholders in the local communities. It was an avenue for me to sensitize the audience on the significance of peacekeeping. I recommended to the Local Government Authorities, the documentation, registration and issuance of identification cards to herdsmen and farmers. Of equal relevance is the need to have farmers and herdsmen in syndicate groups with names under specified units in each of of the Ten wards in Orire LG.

The path to lasting peace however, is for the parties to follow religiously the communique issued at the end of a Peace meeting between Fulani herdsmen and Farmers in Oyo state held at the Conference Hall of the Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan on 21st October, 2015. The statement is an attestation of the readiness of the warring parties to sheathe their swords and embrace peace. Elsewhere, it has been suggested that Government at both State and Federal levels should create cattle ranches and grazing reserves for farmers in line with global best practices.

Comrade Idris Alao,
President, Students' Union, Unilorin