Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have rejected the Federal Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan in the state, describing it as another nomenclature for the Rural Grazing Area, which they call a land grabbing initiative.

The traditional rulers, under the aegis of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land, who said the scheme would bring about Fulani herders’ occupation of their land, said, “We vehemently oppose surrendering/acquisition of our land to be used as grazing reserves for herdsmen under the proposed NLTP.”

MOBEL Chairman and the Olomuooke of Omuo-Oke Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Otitoju; Secretary and the Onikun of Ikun-Amure Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola; and 79 traditional rulers, in a letter to Governor Kayode Fayemi, dated March 25, 2021 and titled, ‘Rejection of the proposed Federal Government’s livestock scheme in Ekiti State by MOBEL’, said NTLP was unacceptable to them and as well their subjects.

The Ekiti State Government has been favorably disposed to NLTP, saying it will reactivate the grazing reserves at Oke Ako and Irele Ekiti for the programme in the state.

But the traditional rulers said, “We are mindful of the security implications and consequences which will be inimical to the security of our people, knowing full well that the majority of our populace are predominantly peasant farmers.

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“We are also not unmindful of the antecedents of some of the Fulani herders wherever they cohabit with their hosts.

“Since the time it was reported that Ekiti State is favourably disposed to the proposed programme which will lead to direct occupation of our land by Fulani herders, we have been inundated with series of complaints laden with fears from our subjects both from home and in diaspora.

“In view of the foregoing, MOBEL, on behalf of our subjects at home and in Diaspora, hereby declares that this proposed programme which we perceive to be another nomenclature for RUGA – the widely rejected land grabbing initiative, is unacceptable to our subjects,” the monarchs stated.