The Oyo state house of assembly, this Wednesday, conducted a public hearing on Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Bill, 2019.
The Public Hearing is said to sort for a Bill for a Law to Prohibit Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestock and to provide for the Regulation of activities of Herdsmen and for connected purposes in Oyo State.
Speaking at the public hearing, Mr Arogundade Temitope, who spoke on behalf of the Agbekoya Farmers Association said the association is fully in support of the bill, pledges to adhere strictly to the provisions of the bill.
In their separate remarks, The Olugbon of Ile’gbon, Oba Olusola Alao, The Aseyin of Iseyin land, Oba Abdulganiyu Adekunle and the representative of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola, commended the Oyo 9th assembly for involving the masses in the deliberation of the bill.
Speaking on the provisions of the bill, the Executive Assistant to the Oyo state governor on Security matters, Mr Fatai Owoseni, maintained that the bill is not targeted at any ethnic group, rather, it is to ensure a peaceful co-existence amongst various groups in the state.
In his remark, Honourable speaker of the house, Oyo state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, said the bill is aimed at addressing the crisis between farmers and the herdsmen and other insecurity matters especially in the rural areas of the state.
He make a significant note that the hearing is the first of its kind to be hold by the Oyo state 9th assembly.
Ogundoyin who maintained that Undoubtedly, Animal husbandry and Crop production remains the major activities in our state reiterated that the bill is to protect environment and food security in the state.
He reminisced that at the time past in the Okeogun, Ibarapa, axis of Oyo state nomadic herdsmen have leave peacefully due to the application of tolerance in all activities.
National Insight gathered that the house received over 25 memoranda from various agencies at the end of the public hearing.
The epoch making gathering held at the house of chiefs, parliamentary building, secretariat, Ibadan had in attendance Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Agbekoya Farmers Association, Representative of Settlers in the state farm settlements, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Chairmen Traditional Council in all Local Governments in Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso and Ibadan, government officials, representatives of the police and other sister security agencies, amongst others.
