By Dapo Akinrefon
The pan-Yoruba socio-political  organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, frowned at the statement credited to  the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, who faulted the Yoruba body and the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, on their stance against the creation of cattle ranches for Fulani herders in the South West.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo visit Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure. Photo Dayo Johnson

The Iwo monarch had supported the Federal Government’s decision to set up cattle ranches in ten states of the country.

But Afenifere lampooned the monarch for backing the proposal.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said: “It is unfortunate that he (Oluwo) wants to coordinate Miyetti Allah for South West. You know sometimes ago, he said he wanted to be addressed as an Emir and no longer the Oluwo of Iwo land, which is why he is talking like that. I don’t think any Oba that is for the Yoruba people, will accept ranches the way they are proposing it gives it an imperialistic agenda, to take over peoples’ land and give them to herdsmen.

“We are not against ranching but what we are against is public-funded ranches or that the Federal Government set up federal territories on our land and then give it to herdsmen. Anyone who needs land, should go to the governor’s office, go through the process of acquiring land, build ranches and then operate it. For the Federal Government to take over people’s land, create territories on our land, that is what we said we are against.

“I think before an Oba speaks, he should understand what people are saying and not react the same way Miyetti Allah reacts to us,” Odumakin said.