The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has tackled the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Shehu Malami, for faulting the ban placed on open grazing in the southern part of the country.
The southern governors had at a meeting in Asaba, last week, banned open grazing, and asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to address the nation over the increasing rate of insecurity in the country.
However, Malami, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television, last Wednesday, faulted the ban, arguing that the governor had no right to do that.
Akeredolu, who is the chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, spoke in a statement he personally signed, yesterday, titled, ‘Our decision is irreversible and will be enforced’.
He asked the AGF to challenge the governor’s position on open grazing in court, adding that Malami’s comments were “unfortunate and wicked”.
Part of the statement read, “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.
“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 vigour”, he added.
Similarly, the statement by Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on southern governor’s decision to ban open grazing has attracted backlash from Nigerians as many found it offensive.
It would be recalled that the southern governors resolved to ban open grazing and the movement of cattle by foot, after a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, penultimate Tuesday.
Commenting on this, Malami stated that the resolve to ban open grazing by southern governors was equivalent to prohibiting spare parts trading in the North, saying that the decision does not align with the provisions of the Constitution.
According to Malami, the decision “does not hold water” in the context of human rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
“It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our Constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?” he queried.
“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?
“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 established by the Constitution, if by an inch you want to have any compromise over it, the better approach is 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.”
Also, some Nigerians have kicked against Malami’s statement, saying it’s tribalistic, and should never have been said by Attorney General of the Federation.
Investment banker and Economist, Atedo Peterside said on Twitter, @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.
“If true, my faith has been further restored. We can surmount almost all our problems; including those perpetrated against Nigeria by evil persons supporting Boko Haram #GoNigeria”.