The South-East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) has rejected the proposal by the Federal Government to establish cattle ranches in some states to solve the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
The governors at a meeting in Enugu state yesterday July 8th said they would not be donating any of their lands to the Federal government for the purpose of building ranches for herdsmen.
Reading the communiqué before newsmen, Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi, said that the South-East does not have land mass and therefore was not disposed to allocating any part of its limited land for the establishment of cattle ranches.
''“No land in the south-east has been donated for ranching. We have not donated any land; we have not been asked to donate and we are not going to donate. Ranching is not approved by the south-east governors in the south-east.”
The governors went on to demand an emergency meeting with security chiefs to seek solutions for herdsmen/farmers clashes.
“South East governors have noticed increased challenges in the movement of herdsmen from state and region to another with the resultant effect of massive destruction of farmlands and attendant clashes with farmers. South East governors have been spending huge funds in settling farmers whose farms and crops are destroyed. We, therefore, request for an emergency meeting with South-East and federal security chiefs, farmers and herdsmen to stop the movements and prevent clashes,” Umahi said.
Others at the meeting were the host governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and deputy governors of Anambra and Abia states.
Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, did not attend the meeting and was not represented.
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