Page 5 of The Tide of Monday, December 6, 2021, carried a news headline: “Ayade Frowns At Anti-Open Grazing Law”. For Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State to be quoted as saying that “the anti-open grazing law which some southern states have passed based on the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum might lead to war in the country”, is quite ominous and sad. As a state governor, Ayade must have access to unbiased security reports, one of which was that some sponsored groups were infiltrating into Nigeria as herdsmen. Who are the sponsors?
When the cattle jinx started brewing several years ago, a few concerned Nigerians who knew what was lurking behind it, raised some issues. When the issue of Boko Haram insurgency groups became alarming, President Muhammadu Buhari attributed the phenomenon to Libyan renegades after the fall of Ghadaffi. More worrisome was the alarm raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo about “Islamisation and Fulanisation agenda”, which some Nigerians thought was a joke. Similarly, details of Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) remain shrouded in secrecy, despite obvious signals, rarely inspiring.
To describe anti-open grazing law as legislating “to illegitimacy, a legitimate trade of a people, the nomadic herdsmen”, is to stand legality on its head. Issue of legality rests on rights and rights are only obtained by the fulfilment of duties. To “accommodate the concerns of farmers and herders” would include accommodating the rights and duties of each group within the ambit of legality. To talk about rights, duties and legality must touch on the issue of responsibility, if sanity must prevail in society.
Almost all nomadic herdsmen in the West African zone are of the Islamic brotherhood, whether they be Fulanis or not. With nomadic and wandering lifestyle as an occupation and culture, seeing adults and children move about in search of green pastures can be a pathetic sight. Concern for such herdsmen and their sad conditions called for the policy and programmes of Nomadic Education and the creation of settlements or homes for rehabilitation purposes. Even now, the University of Jos, among others, runs a programme on Nomadic Education.
That the primitive and old-fashioned system of rearing cattle over vast expanse of lands and territories must go on without modifications in line with modern realities, smacks of retrogression and narrow-mindedness. Add this to the fact that the herders are rarely the owners of the herds of cattle which they manage, then the need for intervention becomes obvious. One can say, without mincing words, even though evidence may not be presented in “chapters and verses (as Obasanjo would demand), that over 80 per cent of herds of cattle in Nigeria are owned by highly-placed Nigerians whose children would never rear cattle. Serving and retired Generals!
Then can we not see the hypocrisy and injustice in referring to cattle rearing, via open grazing, as legitimate trade and culture which must continue unchanged? Would Governor Ayade’s grandson move with cattle from Yobe State to Obudu on foot for several days? His “herdsmen brothers of the north”, in semi-arid condition, with no grass and having no money to do irrigation, must be allowed to survive. But the crop farmer in Ikom must not disallow herds of cattle from using his farm as a green and ready pasture! An Omoku man bought a head of cattle last November for N480, 000 for Nchaka Festival.
So, Ayade’s argument of herdsmen having “no money to do irrigation” to sustain their pasture does not hold any water. The issue is not preventing anyone from green pastures; rather, the apprehension is coming from other quarters covered in hidden agenda. Surely, the governor is not unaware that herdsmen kill, rape women in farms and had been seen in possession of firearms meant for soldiers in combat. Then who is “insensitive”, creating “anarchy” and “inviting the nation into war”?; according to Ayade.
Professor Ayade’s proposed Open Grazing Management Law, meant to find a solution to the cattle Jinx, is being awaited as the law that would save Nigeria from war. In his words: “I think morally, ethically, it is unacceptable to prohibit a trade that existed before I was born. I’d rather find a way to modulate it so that it will meet the definition of modern animal farming or husbandry. I think because it’s a profession, a business, it’s also a fundamental right of people to do the business”. Does that call for doing business using ancient methods?
Anti-open grazing law as made by other governors in the South never contains any clause prohibiting any trade or fundamental right of people to do business; but rather sought to bring sanity and security in the society. If Ayade is not aware of it, let him have the hint that some people have a unique mindset that cows must eat grass wherever grass grows because it is a fundamental right. It does not matter that the grass is in somebody else’s land. This is one item in Nomadic Education curriculum, under legal aspect of modern animal husbandry. Rear your cattle, but don’t breach the law or create insecurity by invading farms with impunity!
One would enjoin Governor Ayade to consult his security advisers to ascertain whether it is true or not that movement of cattle and herders southwards was not part of strategies mapped out in some quarters for implementation. He may also be told in confidence that some power blocs cling to religion as an instrument of power politics. Therefore, the issue of anti-open grazing law goes far beyond animal husbandry or legitimate trade and business, but has some value-added contents. Those who see far try to prevent what “might lead to war in the country”, by nipping the jinx in the bud.
Those who seek diligently to perceive the footprints of the ants would be shown the signs and symptoms of possible storms. Before major upheavals occur, there are usually early warning signals which obtuse, money-minded and boisterous talkers rarely perceive. In the case of Nigeria, an early alarm raised by Obasanjo has rarely been taken as a serious issue to table for national discussion. Similarly, lamentations of T. Y. Danjuma concerning ethnic and religious cleansing, of which “the armed forces are not neutral”, fell on deaf ears. How long must we pretend that all is well?
Those who can recall the origin and trend of Afghanistan situation would see similarities going on in Nigeria. In modern democracy, religious fundamentalism often clashes with the principle of freedom or self determination. Nigeria is not a theocratic state, neither must religion be used as an instrument of power politics. Governor Ayade’s concern for cattle business should also extend towards a greater concern for peaceful coexistence fostered by justice and the rule of law. Cattle business is a private affair.

By: Bright Amirize

Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.