Grazing Reserve: Lalong Angry Over Jang Led Protest

By Raymond GUKAS, Jos

Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong is angry with his predecessor and senator Jonah Jang for “spearheading” the anti grazing reserves protests in the state. Even though the governor noted that the protests against the grazing reserves were futile, he disclosed that relevant stakeholders had already agreed on the establishment of cattle ranches in its place. According to him, “the protests were undertaken by few ethnic groups. We have done a lot of consultations from traditional rulers to religious leaders to youth organizations. They all accepted that we should adopt ranching in Plateau State. What they are protesting is grazing reserve but we are not talking about grazing reserves, what we are talking about is ranches. “This is the Presidency, let me say it and I’m going to publish it, the man who introduced it and is causing that confusion is Jonah Jang who incidentally was the person that introduced grazing reserves on the Plateau with a gazette in 2009. That is the gazette I am going to publish. “If you said we have to bring peace in Plateau State you have to introduce grazing reserves and grazing routes, why is he turning round again and instigating people against what is being done, and trying to give an impression that it is the President that is introducing it? “It is not the President; it is an option to every state to key into the concept of grazing ranch. Its ranches, not grazing reserves… So, whatever you see in my state now is just a pocket of crisis or protest and not part of what the state has done. We’ve concluded our consultations and the state accepted that we should proceed with ranches which is very economical and that’d also help in curbing the insecurity in our state”, he said. Already, a 14-member committee has been set up by the Plateau Government on ranches, which includes traditional rulers, religious leaders and youth organizations, has already submitted its report adopting establishment of cattle ranches in the state. The ranches would be funded by the state and federal governments, while it would be open to all those who are interested in cattle rearing, not just for the Fulani herdsmen alone, he disclosed.