Flashback: See What Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Said About Herdsmen Few Years Ago

The activities of herdsmen in the South West of Nigeria has again become the centre of discussion following the incessant killing of people, especially the farmers.

Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Akerodolu had issued a seven day notice for all the herders to vacate the state immediately.

In Oyo State, popular Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho within his capacity also gave a directive that all herdsmen must leave the state.

However, as the seven day ultimatum elapsed two days ago, Sunday Igboho and his men went to the town to enforce the compliance. This of course led some people especially the northern consultative forum and Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to condemned the move by Sunday Igboho.

According to them, the herders have every right to reside in any part of the country.

While the debate is still on going, I want to share with you what Nigerian former president Olusegun Obasanjo had to say about the activities of the herdsmen in the country and what role the government is playing in that regards.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo while speaking at Wilson Centre in 2019 about the herders and what the people are saying, the former president noted that the issue is not given the right approach.

" When you have a situation where your own tribe is being accused of something, you have to take a look into it whether the accusation is unfounded or it is founded before you deal with it. " Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo noted that despite nothing has been done to tackle the situation even though there has been complaints here and there about the herders in some part of the country.

" There has been herdsmen farmers. Herdsmen are mainly fu- la- ni. Nothing has been done. "

Obasanjo said rather than the putting the right measures, a call to establish colonies for the herders was made. " Instead of doing something about it, what we are having is, we will create Cattle colonies. Where would you create colonies in Nigeria? Is it in my own country that you want to create colony? Who will give you land to do that? . " The former president said.