In the aftermath of President Bola Tinubus statement during the flag off of agricultural mechanisation revolution for food security at Minna, Niger State where he advised governors to make lands available in their States to be used by herders, saying doing so would solve the problems of destruction of farms crops and banish hunger from the land, the President-General of Ahuwa Oboro ancient kingdom in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, James Uchegbuo, has said his community will not make land available for cattle rearing. He said it would endanger the lives of his people, both present and those unborn, denying them space to cultivate crops.
Tinubu among other things said in his speech; I know what it means as an economic sabotage for roaming cows to eat up the crops and vegetation of our land; it could be painful but when we re-orientate the herders and make provision for Cattle rearing, the problems will be solved, Tinubu said.
However, while speaking with reporters, Uchegbuo said his community and people of the Southeast do not have enough land to cultivate their crops and, therefore, cannot allocate lands to herders. He noted that telling governors to carve out lands for cattle rearing would escalate the farmer-herder crisis. According to him, issues of alleged land grabbing, killings and destruction of farm crops happening in some states are some of the reasons his community would not donate their lands. Uchegbuo, who said cattle rearing is a private business, said the security of his people and future generation may be compromised if their small farming space is shared with herdsmen.
Cattle rearing is a private business. You cant come to my community at Ahuwa and tell me or my people to give you land for your cows. Such a thing will never happen. We in the South East do not have enough land for farming and so how do you expect us to release the same small lands to be used for rearing cattle?”
So, does that imply a fresh collision with the government on the issue? The community leader said, Really, I dont think that Mr President meant what he said, that is my opinion.
He urged the government at all levels to provide farm implements and give soft loans to genuine farmers in the country to support food security. He also urged the Federal Government to site more agricultural projects in the South East, arguing that previous agricultural policies in the country by the former administrations in the country did not favour the region.
