Etim Ekpimah
The Ondo State governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has replied the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Shehu Malami, SAN, who questioned the rationale behind the southern governors ban on open grazing.
According to a press statement from the governor, banning killer herders is not the same thing as asking spare parts dealers to leave the North since the latter engage in legitimate business which are not injurious to the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“I have just read the press statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Shehu Malami SAN 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.
“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 any way 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.
“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, 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 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,” the governor said in the statement.
He added that the decision to ban open grazing stays, noting that it will be enforced with vigour.