Herdsmen/farmers clashes: Consult widely before establishing ranches – PDP tells FG

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday advised the Federal Government to consult widely with stakeholders before going ahead with plans to establish cattle ranches in the troubled states.

The party explained that doing so will ensure the long lingering crises are not further escalated.

It noted that the situation has already generated discordant tunes and acrimony among major stakeholders, groups, and states across the country, particularly relating to issues of funding and land ownership.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that the PDP is particularly worried by the lack of adequate consultations by the Federal Government resulting in the disagreements that had trailed the plan, especially along ethnic divides.

He said, “The party calls on the Federal Government to get its acts together and follow all due processes, as stipulated by the laws and 1999 constitution (as amended) regarding this issue, in order to eliminate the current disagreements being generated.

“The PDP holds that the nation has witnessed enough disagreements, violence, and bloodletting, as such all measures must be put in place to avert a fresh crisis.”