Okpebholo inaugurates livestock control, boundary committees

By Jethro Ibileke

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, has charged the newly established Livestock Control Committee, to bring an end to the pervasive clashes between herders and farmers.

He gave the charge while inaugurating the 27-member committee, headed by a retired army general, Cecil Esekhaigbe.

The Governor gave the committee a clear mandate, namely, to tackle the pressing issues of security and land disputes in the State.

“There is a task that we need to handle carefully while this assignment is being carried out. We have to carry it out with the fear of God so that we can have especially the best time and result. We can see what is happening today. Herders clashes here and there.

“You have to confine them to a particular location. That is the essence of this committee. I have people with a wealth of experience in the committee. So, I believe that with God on our side, we are going to achieve our purpose,” he said.

In his remark, the committee chairman, General Esekhaigbe (rtd), outlined the committee’s specific terms of reference include: regulating the movement of livestock within the State; inspecting, certifying, and registering all ranches; controlling the activities of cattle herdsmen within various communities.

He said: “I know security is one of the pillars of your five points agenda, and we all know one of the causative factors of insecurity in Nigeria as a whole is farming.

“We will do our best to make sure that our assignment that has been given to us is carried out to the best of our abilities. And to ensure that these community clashes in farmers areas crisis will not be a thing to mention in our dear state.”

In a related development, Governor Okpebholo also inaugurated a high-powered Boundary Committee, chaired by the state deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa.

The committee is tasked with the responsibility of addressing persistent boundary disputes affecting communities within the State and those bordering neighboring States.

“I am happy to see this moment because communities, especially the ones that share boundaries with us, have issues that border on clear landmarks.

“We have Lagos, we have Ondo, we have Delta, we have Kogi State. So, we have boundary crises here and there. For this reason, I think the people before me today are the best to handle this task for the betterment of Edo people,” Okpebholo stated.

Responding, the Boundary Committee chairman, Dennis Idahosa, assured that will “ensure accurate boundary demarcation, promote peaceful coexistence among communities and foster development in the areas affected by conflicts while collaborating with all stakeholders and actively engaging with citizens in fulfilling our mandate.”

The Edo Governor charged both committees to carry out their assignment with the fear of God.