Organised by its founder, Comrade Dachung Bagos, the Plateau Youth G-17 Peace and Progressive Forum has stated their position on Northern States Governors Forum endorsing ranching as an end to farmers and herdsmen crises.
Press Release
OUR POSITION ON NORTHERN STATES GOVERNORS FORUM ENDORSING RANCHING TO END FARMERS/HERDSMEN CRISIS.
NO TO GOVERNMENT SPONSORED RANCHES
While farmers are engaged in agriculture which they do either
subsistence or commercial, they do so as private businesses to boost
food sufficiency in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
While in Subsistence Farming, the focus is self sufficiency farming
system in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed
themselves and their entire families, in commercial Farming crops are
grown and animals are reared for sale in the market, that is, for
commercial purposes.
We are much more aware that ranching is among the solutions to farmers/herdsmen crisis.
We must also be conversant that the present crisis is triggered by
selfish and well-planned agenda of forceful takeovers of lands from
native farmers by the attackers. This is one of the reasons why many
villages have been sacked by herdsmen and presently being illegally
occupied by them.
While we welcome the decision of the Northern States Governors Forum
settling for ranching, we wish to categorically state that such ranching
should not be funded by public funds rather, the herdsmen should be
allowed to legitimately acquire lands from landowners and develop
private ranches since cattle rearing is a private business.
Government role is to providing enabling environment for farming and
cattle rearing to thrive for socioeconomic development and food
sufficiency.
Any attempt to forcefully seize lands from natives by government for
the purpose of ranching instead of the native farmers willingly agreeing
to give out or sell lands for this purpose will be vehemently resisted.
We wish to state again that both farming and cattle rearing are
private businesses, therefore individuals should be allowed to
legitimately run them.
It will not augur well to landowners if government will take their
lands and give them out to a particular ethnicity for its business while
they are left wallowing in pains.
Having said this, it is imperative for the Northern States Governors
Forum to take note of the aforementioned since they posited that they
are open to suggestions that can end the incessant killings associated
with the conflicts.
Acquiring lands without the consent and willingness of the owners
will further create more tension and apprehension in them. Suspicion
already exist in the hearts of farmers following the violent crisis and
hostilities meted on them by same herdsmen who they believe are on an
expansionary mission of land grasping.
Government should have a rethink should they be thinking of funding the ranching from public resources.
We also want to reiterate our position for government to come up with
law prohibiting open grazing in Plateau State and retrieving lands
forcefully taken over by herdsmen from natives all across the State.
We remain committed to things promoting peaceful coexistence, unity
and prosperity of our State and Nation but will resist those capable of
promoting social injustices.
We will continue to contribute our quota towards national peace,
cohesion and development for a more united and prosperous State and
Country at large.
Thank you and God bless.
Mr. Dachung Musa Bagos
Convener, Plateau Youth G-17 Peace and Progressive Forum