Monarch decries destruction of farms by herders

Kwara monarch, Oloro of Oro land in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, Oba Abdul-Rafiu Oyelara has decried the incessant destruction of the community farmlands by herdsmen cattle. The traditional ruler, who spoke during an interactive session with the Director-General, Centre for African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, said the development made […]

Kwara monarch, Oloro of Oro land in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, Oba Abdul-Rafiu Oyelara has decried the incessant destruction of the community farmlands by herdsmen cattle.
The traditional ruler, who spoke during an interactive session with the Director-General, Centre for African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, said the development made his chiefs and subjects to abandon their farmlands to avoid crisis.
According to him, the crisis between herders and farmers across is  a major issue that concerns all the royal fathers.
“Hitherto these herdsmen would live with you peacefully. Let me tell you, all these chiefs are all farmers before they would come to the palace they would have visited their farmlands.
“Now, they can no longer farm as the herdsmen’ cows will destroy all what they plant on their farms. They now depend on their relations in Lagos and other parts of the country for survival,” he said.
He said dereliction of Nigerian languages and cultural heritage portends grave danger for the country’s future.
“I am in support of the reintroduction of Yoruba and other Nigerian languages into the curricula of primary and secondary schools in the country. I want our culture to be the centre piece of our developmental programmes.
“The first professor of education in Nigeria, Babs Fafunwa said you become a better student when you understand your vernacular as basis for learning some other languages,” he said.