Adesanya-Davies Backs Catholic Priests’ Opposition to Inclusion of Benue in Ranching Pilot

Bishop Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a former presidential candidate, has thrown her weight behind the position of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Makurdi Diocese, opposing the reported inclusion of Benue State in the Federal Government’s pilot implementation of the National Ranching Policy.

Adesanya-Davies, who described herself as a daughter of the North Central region, said decisions concerning land and livelihoods in Benue must involve meaningful consultation with the state government, traditional institutions and affected communities.

The NCDPA, in a statement signed by its chairman, Rev. Fr. Joseph Terfa Beba, had expressed concern over Benue’s reported inclusion in the ranching programme and called for transparent engagement with stakeholders before implementation.

Supporting the position, Adesanya-Davies said the debate over ranching must take into account land ownership, food security, internal displacement, constitutional governance and the protection of indigenous communities.

“Our land is not for sale. Benue land is not a political bargaining chip, and the rights of displaced communities must not be negotiated away in the name of any policy,” she said.

She urged the Federal Government to pursue dialogue rather than impose policies on communities that have experienced prolonged insecurity, killings, destruction and displacement.
According to her, the immediate priority in severely affected areas should be the restoration of security and the safe return, rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced Benue residents in their ancestral communities.

Consult Benue Before Making Decisions About Benue

The former presidential candidate stressed that genuine federalism requires meaningful consultation among the Federal Government, Benue State Government, traditional rulers, local communities, farmers, pastoralists and other relevant stakeholders.

“A policy affecting the land, livelihood and security of a people cannot be genuinely participatory if the people themselves, their elected representatives and their traditional institutions are not meaningfully consulted,” she said.

Adesanya-Davies also cautioned against any ranching arrangement that could be perceived as land grabbing, forced occupation, demographic displacement or the exclusion of indigenous people from their ancestral communities.

Supports Bishop Anagbe

Adesanya-Davies further expressed solidarity with the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, CMF, commending his advocacy on the security and welfare of Benue communities.

She also praised the Catholic Church in Makurdi for continuing to raise concerns over human dignity, peaceful coexistence and the rights of vulnerable and displaced persons.

“The Church has a moral responsibility to speak whenever human dignity, justice, peace and the security of communities are threatened. Silence cannot always be the answer when people are displaced from their ancestral homes,” she said.

Ranching Must Not Mean Land Dispossession
Adesanya-Davies clarified that she does not oppose agricultural development, livestock production or legitimate government policies aimed at addressing farmer-herder conflicts.

Rather, she called for a livestock policy that respects property rights, constitutional processes, community interests, environmental considerations and the security of all Nigerians.

“Let us distinguish ranching from land dispossession. Let us distinguish livestock development from territorial occupation. Let us distinguish peaceful coexistence from policies that could unintentionally deepen existing tensions,” she said.

She urged the Federal Government to engage the Benue State Government before implementing any land-related ranching programme, consult traditional rulers and affected communities, protect lawful land rights and ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons.

She also called for a transparent national livestock policy that treats farmers, pastoralists and indigenous communities fairly while promoting dialogue, modern livestock management and peaceful coexistence.

“Benue Must Remain a Home to Its People”
Adesanya-Davies reiterated her support for the NCDPA’s central message that “our land is not for sale,” insisting that Benue’s ancestral lands must not become bargaining chips in efforts to address Nigeria’s livestock and security challenges.

“Government has a responsibility to protect life, property, dignity and lawful rights. The people of Benue deserve security, justice, consultation and the opportunity to return home,” she said.

She urged the Federal Government to prioritise negotiation, consultation and constitutional governance in addressing the ranching question, warning that policies perceived as imposed could deepen mistrust in communities already affected by insecurity.

Adesanya-Davies maintained that Nigeria can develop a modern livestock sector without compromising the rights, dignity, ancestral heritage or security of any community.

“Our land is not for sale. Our people must return home. Justice, security and dialogue must come first,” she declared.