By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti
In what could be described as a truce in the war of words between the Governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the duo met yesterday in Ado-Ekiti to iron out grey areas in the enforcement of the Anti-Grazing Law in the state.
At the meeting, Governor Fayose declared that he had nothing against the interest of Fulani people or any other ethnic group in the Country.
Expressing happiness that the leaders of MACBAN decided to contact the state government instead of listening to rumours being peddled around by the opposition, he said: “I have nothing against you or any other ethnic group. Nobody should bring politics into this matter. If a Yoruba person destroys your property I will defend you too.
“We have given lands to people to farm and they have paid, some for many years to use the lands and when somebody now comes and destroys their means of livelihood and make them suffer losses, we won’t allow that. It is the bad people that make others suffer. If anybody says Fayose is after Hausa or Fulani people, that person has no sense. During my first term, I appointed a man from Malunfashi as a Special Adviser. This term too, I appointed Musa Kanga into the Pilgrims Welfare Board.”
Fayose emphasised not leading cows along major roads and city centres, saying that had caused fatal vehicular accidents in the past.
On the claim that marshals appointed to enforce the Anti-Grazing Law were shooting cows, the governor said it was untrue, adding that the marshals were not armed.
He also said a meeting of community leaders, government officials, MACBAN members and security agents would hold later in the week for further deliberations.
Ekiti state MACBAN chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Nasamu, commended the governor for his frankness and openness.
He noted that the meeting had disabused the minds of his members about wrong information being circulated by some people about the governor and the state government.
“Today, that we have met, we are suggesting that farmers and Fulani rearers be part of the marshals who will patrol across the state. When that is done, there will no longer be any trouble. Those in the office don’t know what is happening in the bush and we will try and bridge the communication gap,” he said.