The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere has berated the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his statement that unused lands in the country should be converted to grazing reserves in order to solve the curb the clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some states of the federation.

Tinubu had on Tuesday while speaking at The Nation/TVC seminar in Abuja said that unoccupied, isolated land could quickly be turned into grazing areas in the affected states as the herdsmen terror being witnessed across the country was a fallout of water scarcity.

According to a statement titled ‘We Reject Tinubu’s Miyetti Allah’s Choice’ and issued b its spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the group said it was sad that Tinubu was adumbrating the Miyetti Allah’s position to convert the entire country into one huge cattle colony.

The group said it totally rejected Tinubu’s position, describing it as very backward and contrary to the consensus of all peace-loving Nigerians that what the country needed to solve the herdsmen siege on farmers was to have ranches.

Afenifere however said the former Lagos State Governor was free to play his politics the way it suited him but warned that he should tread softly in playing games with the lives of Nigerians by making outlandish propositions on settled issues.

The statement read: “The attention of Afenifere has been drawn to the statement credited to former Lagos governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the herdsmen’s terror being witnessed across the country is a fall out of water scarcity and that the country should “convert unused land to grazing reserves”.

“Tinubu, who was speaking at The Nation/TVC seminar in Abuja, said: “Unoccupied, isolated land can quickly be turned into grazing areas in the affected states.”

“Since most of the states in the country are being affected, it is sad that Tinubu is adumbrating the Miyetti Allah’s position to convert the entire country into one huge cattle colony.

“We admonish him that he is free to play his politics the way it suits him but he should tread softly in playing games with the lives of our people by making outlandish propositions on issues on which positions have been settled.”

The group wondered if the APC chieftain, as a very enlightened person would have suggested that grazing routes should be established in places like the United States and Britain at this age and time if he were still living in any of such countries.

Afenifere maintained that it stood on the 2014 National Conference position that the country should embrace ranching as a way out of the herdsmen crisis, adding that while Tinubu was free to give up his residence in Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos for cattle colony, the Yoruba people would not accept their land being converted into cattle grazing routes.

“We stand on the position of the 2014 National Conference position that the country should embrace ranching as a way out of the herdsmen crisis.

“Let those who are in the position to take the decision to know this clearly: Tinubu can give his residence in Bourdillon for cattle colony but our people will not accept their land being converted into cattle grazing routes,” the statement added.