The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is receiving knocks on social media for saying that the recent ban of open grazing by Southern Governors Forum is the same thing as northern governors banning spare parts trading in North.
Salami made the statement when he featured on Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today’ on Wednesday, May 19, where he lambasted southern governors for the ban on open grazing, which was one of the resolutions of the governors in a meeting they held recently in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Speaking on the Asaba accord, Malami said: “It is about constitutionality. Within the context of the freedoms enshrined in our constitution, can you deny a right of a Nigerian? It is as good as saying maybe the Northern governors coming together to say that 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?
“If you are talking of a constitutionally guaranteed right, the better approach to it is perhaps to go back and ensure that the constitution is amended. The freedom and liberty of movement, amongst others is established by the constitution.
“If by an inch, you want to have any compromise, the better approach is to go back to the National Assembly for open grazing to be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment in that respect but it is a very dangerous position for any governor in Nigeria to think that he can bring about any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.”
Some of the reactions by Nigerians on Twitter over the comment by Malami, which was gathered by FirstNews read:
FS Yusuf: @FS_Yusuf_
“Dear Malami SAN, Igbo traders selling spare parts in the North rent or build their shops; they don’t carry arms around & cause unrest. Since open grazing has proven unworkable, advise herdsmen to obtain lands to rear their cattle bcos southern farms want peace and progress.
Henry Shield: @henryshield
“Dear Southern Governor, pls respond to Malami in a way he’ll understand you’re not joking!”
“Attorney General of the North. Well done Malami”.
Somto Okonkwo: @General_Somto
“Northern Governors Can Decide To Ban Trade Of Spare Parts Business In The North. Imagine The Mindset! What Has Killer Fulani Herdsmen Slaughtering Innocent People Got To Do With Spare Parts Business?”
Dr. Dípò Awójídé: @OgbeniDipo
“This is the most disingenuous interview I have watched this year. Spare parts dealers in the North are not a security threat neither do they destroy other peoples farmlands. They rent shops and do their business in peace. Malami, you will not be in office forever.”
Atedo Peterside: @AtedoPeterside
It is disingenuous to link a ban on open grazing to the constitutional right to the free movement of persons. The latter does not extend to the free movement of cattle, goats, sheep etc through farms with the attendant destruction of somebody’s harvest”.
Big Chief: @MONSIEURBLAC
“I honestly do not think Malami can write a Court of Appeal brief of argument. I’m not even joking.”
Uc_Rufyz: @uc_rufyz
“It seems Malami has forgotten that in the North Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to sold. Is it not part of our constitutional right to sell and drink alcohol anywhere in Nigeria? I don’t blame the quota system SAN, i blame Seun for not asking him the hard question.”
Ayemojubar: @ayemojubar
“Tell Malami, the Attorney General of Miyetti Allah that what 1999 constitution has a provision for is ‘free movement of persons” not “free movement of cattle’.
Umar Sa’ad Hassan: @Alaye_100
“So governors cannot ban open grazing in their states to protect citizens from killer herdsmen..To quote Malami ‘it is like banning the sale of spare parts’..But other governors are free to ban the sale of alcohol in their states?.The clowns we have handed Nigeria to..God help us.”
A.zed: @AzuUmeh
“And this is my biggest frustration with Seun. He gets the biggest newsmakers on his show but rarely challenges them nor does he ask intelligent follow up questions.
“Anybody – Malami, Fayose, Gumi – can come on his show, make the most ludicrous claims & Seun will let it slide.”