Ban on Open Grazing: No going back-Southern Governors
Says open grazing is anarchy
By Samuel Bakare
The 17 Southern Governors will not reverse the ban on open grazing
In a statement issued on Thursday and made available to Irohinoodua the Governor of Ondo State Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu said there will be no retreat on the ban signifying a significant clash of values in a plural country that lay claims to federalism when such an issue should ordinarily be understood by belligerent parties.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mallam Shehu Malami had said that the ban by the Southern Governors was illegal.
He equated the ban with banning spare parts noted as a major trade by Igbo.
Akeredolu said the AGF was quoted to have said that this reasoned decision, among others, is akin to banning all spare parts dealers in the Northern parts of the country and is unconstitutional.
“It is most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distill issues as expected of a Senior Advocate. Nothing can be more disconcerting. This outburst should, ordinarily, not elicit response from reasonable people who know the distinction between a legitimate business that is not in anyway injurious and a certain predilection for anarchy. Clinging to an anachronistic model of animal husbandry, which is evidently injurious to harmonious relationship between the herders and the farmers as well as the local populace, is wicked and arrogant”, Akeredolu said
He said comparing this anachronism, which has led to loss of lives, farmlands and property, and engendered untold hardship on the host communities, with buying and selling of auto parts is not only strange but annoyingly and betrays a terrible mindset.
“Mr Malami is advised to approach the court to challenge the legality of the Laws of the respective States baning open grazing and decision of the Southern Governor Forum taken in the interest of their people. We shall be most willing to meet him in Court” Akeredolu said
He argued that the decision to ban open grazing stays and will be enforced with vigour.
