Former Oyo State Governor, Rasheed Ladoja has backed the decision of the Southern governors to ban open grazing across their regions.

Speaking with reporters at his Bodija, Ibadan residence after observing the Thursday Eid prayers, Ladoja said he decided to back the ban on open grazing because that practice is not sustainable,

He noted that the governors need to do more in terms of implementing the ban on open grazing which he said had been passed in most states of the federation.

Ladoja said “Most of us know that open grazing is not sustainable, we are still practicing what was been practicing 50 years ago, let’s find a way of going for sustainable systems. The number of cows people are eating today has increased, all over the world, there are more cows than human beings, yet, they maintained it without grazing openly.

“All over the world, many countries don’t have open grazing, we should also adopt and we should now see cow herding as a business that should be taken seriously

“I support a ban on open grazing, there is existence of open grazing law even in Oyo state but unfortunately, we have not seen it implemented because we still see cows roaming the streets. But maybe now that all of the Southern governors have adopted it, maybe the implementation will start in earnest.

“If people keep saying Fulani herdsmen and crisis about, maybe if there is no more open grazing, there will not be so much noise about Fulani herdsmen again. Look at the situation in Benue. If we are able to tackle the issue of open grazing first, let’s see if the issue of insecurity, banditry and other vices will not be addressed.”

Speaking on the agitation for cessation, the former governor called for more religious tolerance and fairness, justice especially in making political appointments.