GIFT ROBERTS
Southwest Governors Forum has lambasted the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami on his stand that their ban on open grazing is similar to banning all spare parts trading in the North.
Malami had on Wednesday, while speaking during a Channels Television Programme, Politics Today, 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?”
But responding in a statement on Thursday by the Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, he said, “I have just read the press statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami on the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing in their respective states.
“The AGF is 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.
“lt 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 a response from reasonable people who know the distinction between a legitimate business that is not in any way injurious and a certain predilection for anarchy.
“Clinging to an anachronistic model of animal husbandry, which is evidently injurious to a harmonious relationship between the herders and the farmers as well as the local populace, is wicked and arrogant.
“Comparing this anachronism, which has led to the 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. It, annoyingly, betrays a terrible mindset.
“Mr. Malami is advised to approach the court to challenge the legality of the Laws of the respective states banning 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.
“The decision to ban open grazing stays. It will be enforced with vigor.”