It Is Not Buhari’s Job To Solve Herdsmen/Farmers Conflict- Obasanjo

Speaking at the 23rd Annual LAPO Development Forum with the theme, ‘Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities’, organized by the Lift Above Poverty Organisation in Abuja today, former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said the herdsmen/farmers conflicts have nothing to do with the President. According to him it is none of President Buhari’s business. He said;

“Some of the words that have been coming from our leaders, particularly from state governors are not helpful! This issue is not a federal issue and another thing, I don’t like about it is that when you talk of Fulani herdsmen, people talk of the President.

“Now because the President of Nigeria is a Fulani man, you expect him to solve the problem immediately, that is not his job. And when people make comments like this, it annoys me.


He also spoke about colonial era, having so many grazing reserves in most parts of the North, but wondered what happened to them.

 “I need to state that it is the responsibility of local governments to take care of them. Now, states should have even done better, but they haven’t, and then when you have cattle rustling, herdsmen and farmers conflict, you try to make it a national issue. It is not really a national issue.

“For me, the herdsmen are entitled be able to look after their animals but they are not entitled to destroy the crops of the rural farmers, it is unacceptable,” he said.