Killings: Alaafin, Oyo monarchs re-enact harmonious relationship between herdsmen, farmers

Violent conflicts between nomadic herders from northern part of the country and sedentary agrarian communities in the southern zones have escalated in recent times and are threatening security and stability.
With unabated gruesome murder of innocent souls and wanton destruction of properties by these herdsmen suspected to be of Fulani extraction,
these despicable acts are becoming as potentially dangerous as the Boko Haram insurgency.
Before now, Oyo metropolis under the reign of Alaafin not only remained the first to provide cattle ranches for Fulani herdsmen in
Yoruba land, another ten acres of land were made available for
convenience of the herdsmen free of charge, in order to ensure
harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence among all ethnic
groups residing in the metroplolis.
Whenever there are skirmishes between farmers and the herdsmen, the
royal adopted his age-long Conflict resolution mechanisms, dated back
to the Old Oyo Empire, which provides opportunity to interact with the
parties concerned, promotes consensus-building, social bridge
reconstructions and enactment of order in the metropolis.
 While, the western world places more emphasis on the judicial system
presided over by council of elders, kings’ courts, assemblies for
dispute settlement and justice dispensation, the Alaafin
administration evolves  traditional conflict resolution techniques
such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as
well as cross examination.
These had been offering great prospects for peaceful co-existence and
harmonious relationships than the modern method of litigation
settlements in law courts.
Disturbed about this ugly development which had claimed hundreds of
lives and properties in some parts of the country, and putting into
consideration the fact that Yorubas and Fulanis had  for decades been
living harmoniously without let or hindrance,  the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, in consultation with other
traditional rulers in the northern part of Oyo State, otherwise known
as Oke Ogun area, invited Fulanis in the areas for a peace parley
meeting.
At the end of the well attended successful meeting, each community was
requested to submit name of its representative who must be of a
redoubtable character.
These Fulani representatives, twelve in number, were chosen and
conferred with chieftaincy titles and with the task of ensuring
peaceful co-existence, checkmating cattle rustling, and prevent acts
that are detrimental to national security.
Consequently, penultimate Friday would remain indelible in the
nation’s history when thousands of Fulanis within and outside Oyo
State converged at the ancient palace in Oyo town for the turban of
these representatives, as part of strategies to re-enact bond of unity
and mutual relationship between the Fulanis and the Yorubas.
In his address, National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association, Alhaji Abdul Muhammadu  Pirowa, commended the Alaafin for
his visionary leadership qualities, and unflinching commitment for
unity, peace and national development.
According to him, ‘’ I have never seen any community or State where
Fulanis are accorded honour and recognition in the course of peace and
mutual co-existence like before. Your Imperial Majesty, as the
Permanent Chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, You have
set the pace in Yoruba land and indeed in the country. I am indeed
excited for this’’.
Pirowa who stressed the need for peace, unity and understanding among
Nigerians, described the Fulanis as ‘’peace loving’’, said those who
attributed mindless killings in some parts of the country to the
ethnic group are ‘’’misguided’’.
 According to him, ‘’what is happening in the up north is worrisome
and disheartening to us. Fulanis have been living with other people of
ethnic backgrounds peacefully for several decades and without any fear
or threats, as we go about our works without conflict or bloodshed
with anyone. Besides, ranches, and several acres of land were being
donated free of charge to us, especially by the Alaafin in Oyo
metropolis, for ease of our occupation. We are indeed very grateful’’.
The Alaafin of Oyo called on Nigerians to stand together against blood
guzzlers and enemies of state, nature, and sound reasoning, who take
solace in mindless killings of innocent souls.
This, he said would reinforce collective will, to completely snatch
the country and destiny from the jaws of insanity and barbarism, just
as socio-cultural orientations that uphold the sanctity of life and
the intrinsic dignity in the human person must never be surrendered to
the ungodly.
Alaafin who lamented about the mindless killings masterminded by
suspected Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country, wondered why
the herdsmen became threats to peace and security, adding they had for
long been in existence without serious criminal records as is
presently the case.
Oba Adeyemi enjoined the Federal Government to ensure that all those
found culpable in the mindless killings in Benue and other affected
States are brought to justice and to serve as a credible deterrence.
According to the Alaafin, ‘’there can be no national development
without relative peace and stability.  There have been greater
challenges of security in recent times than at any point in time in
our history, thus rendering our political stability fragile,
democratic institutions and processes fluid, and our economy
debilitated. Government, political leaders and followers, and all of
us, must have the courage and honesty to get to the root causes of our
current state of insecurity, underpinned by criminality, insurgency
and of recent terrorism by herdsmen’’.
  ‘’Our leaders and followers have taken the issues of security for
granted, yet urgent and immediate steps  must be taken to consciously
respond to current threats by architectonically designing and building
a security system which would create a stable and relatively peaceful
environment, conducive for national development. We must accept the
reality that while it is necessary to create unity in diversity, we
must identify and respect our differences, which is diversity in
unity’’.
While eulogizing security agencies for their steadfastness and
commitment to duties, Alaafin who warned against acts that are
detrimental to peace, orderliness and unity of the country,  assured
all ethnic groups living in the metropolis of adequate protection of
lives and properties.
He stressed the need for the President and state governments to work
together, taking immediate steps  to shore up  security  for herders
and farmers, strengthening conflict  resolution mechanisms  and
initiating longer  term efforts  to reform livestock management
practices, as well as address negative environmental  trends and curb
cross-border  movements of both cattle rustlers and armed herders.