Nigeria’s
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has attacked
southern governors over their decision to ban open grazing in their states.
Speaking on the Channels Television‘s Politics Today programme on
Wednesday, Malami said the move by the 17 governors was unconstitutional.
“It is about constitutionality
within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny
the rights of a Nigerian?
“For example, it is as good as
saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they
prohibit spare parts trading in the north.
“Does it hold water? Does it
hold water for a northern governor to come and state expressly that he now
prohibits spare parts trading in the north?”
Malami urged the governors to
first amend the Constitution to prohibit open grazing before going ahead with
their decision.
“If you are talking of
constitutionally guaranteed rights, the better approach to it is to, perhaps,
go back to ensure the Constitution is amended,” he said.
“Freedom and liberty of movement
among others is established by the Constitution. If by an inch you want to have
any compromise over it, the better approach is to go back to the National
Assembly to say open grazing should be prohibited and see whether you can have
the desired support for the constitutional amendment
“It is a dangerous provision for
any governor in Nigeria to think he can bring any compromise on the freedom and
liberty of individuals to move around.”
The 17 southern governors met
last week in Asaba, hosted by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and resolved to ban open
grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region as some kidnappings and
killings in the Southern region have been traced to criminal elements amongst
herders.
Chairman of the Southern
Governor’s Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, explained that the decision is not new and
most of the governors have placed a ban on open grazing in their states before
the meeting.
“We felt that … this open
grazing must stop. It is causing a lot of problems particularly between the
herders and the farmers. Whether we like it or not, times have changed and this
must change. We must adopt a modern system of animal husbandry.
“In this day and age, they
cannot continue taking cows by foot from Kano to Port Harcourt,” he said.
The governor said the Federal
government needs to throw its weight behind state governments that want to set
up ranches, noting that this will benefit the herders who are exposed to
dangers as they roam with their cattle.
0 Comments