Ibadan – The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) on Thursday in Ibadan rejected the proposed cattle colonies by the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government.

Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday at the end of the 26th national executive council meeting of the group, the Yoruba elders expressed surprise that three weeks after the murder of some people in Benue by Fulani herdsmen, no arrest has been made.

Dr. Kunle Olajide, the YCE’s Secretary -General, who spoke with newsmen on behalf of the group, lamented that the kid glove treatment of Miyetti Allah group speaks volume about the neutrality of the presidency on the matter.

Olajide said “YCE totally rejects cattle colony and anti-grazing law as solutions to Fulani herdsmen brutality. We believe restructuring is the only solution. Once restructuring is done, it will solve all these problems.

“The Federal Government is encouraging Nigerians to go into farming. If we are promoting agriculture and Fulani herdsmen move about with their cattle destroying the farmlands. That is a paradox.”

The Yoruba elders also condemned the pronouncements by a group of governors who endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for 2019 election at a time the country was mourning.

On the proposed cattle colonies, the Yoruba elders said unequivocally that the zone would never allow any cattle colony which only favours the Fulani herdsmen.

“Under the federal system of government we seem to be running, the Federal Government doesn’t have power to acquire our lands. The land belongs to the state.

“YCE condemns the ineptitude of the security agencies on the crisis, three weeks after the gruesome murder, no arrest has been made. YCE is alarmed that the leadership of an association Miyetti Allah who had openly been issuing threats has not been questioned”, Olajide added.

The YCE also faults President Buhari’s new year broadcast, saying the broadcast failed totally to proffer solution to Nigeria’ pressing problems.

“However, President Buhari 2018 broadcast shot an arrow at the heart of the citizen’s expectations by foreclosing restructuring and glibly blaming process rather structure for the nation’s woes.

“YCE believes that the dysfunctional geopolitical structure is the root cause of the nation’s woes. The situation is further complicated by the wasteful system of government which is defective and which compels corruption by breeding mental and physical indolence.

“YCE is particularly disturbed by the fact that responsible leaders and elders from parts of the country are dissatisfied with the state of the nation”.

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Yoruba Elders Reject Cattle Colonies, Insist On Restructuring