The presidency says the southern governors’ proposed plan to
enforce the ban on open grazing is of “questionable legality”.
According to the presidency, the resolution reached in
Asaba, Delta state capital, will not solve the farmer-herder clashes.
The governors had said the decision was taken as part of
efforts to improve security in the region.
There have been mixed reactions over the Asaba resolution,
and recently, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had
likened the proposed ban to prohibiting spare parts trading in the north.
In a statement on Monday, Garba Shehu, a presidential
spokesperson, said President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier approved the
rehabilitation of grazing reserves.
With this, he said, the clashes between the farmer and
herders will be addressed.
“The President had approved a number of specific measures to
bring a permanent end to the frequent skirmishes as recommended by Alhaji Sabo
Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture in a report he submitted and the President
signed off on it back in April, well before the actions of the Southern
Governors Forum which attempts to place a ban on open grazing and other acts of
politicking intended by its signatories to demonstrate their power,” the
statement read.
“It is very clear that there was no solution offered from
their resolutions to the herder-farmer clashes that have been continuing in our
country for generations.
“But the citizens of the southern states – indeed citizens
of all states of Nigeria – have a right to expect their elected leaders and
representatives to find answers to challenges of governance and rights, and not
to wash their hands off hard choices by, instead, issuing bans that say: “not
in my state.”
“It is equally true that their announcement is of
questionable legality, given the Constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy
the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT)
-regardless of the state of their birth or residence.
“Fortunately, this declaration has been preempted, for
whatever it is intended to achieve and Mr. President, who has rightly been
worried about these problems more than any other citizen in consultation with
farmers and herders alike, commissioned and approved an actionable plan of
rehabilitating grazing reserves in the states, starting with those that are
truly committed to the solution and compliant with stated requirements.
“With veterinary
clinics, water points for animals, and facilities for herders and their
families including schooling – through these rehabilitated reserves, the
Federal Government is making far-reaching and practical changes allowing for
different communities to co-exist side-by-side: supporting farmers to till
their fields, herders to rear their livestock and Nigerians everywhere to be
safe.”
Shehu said in spite of the negative effects of COVID-19 on
the economy, federal funding for the project, which had been delayed, is now
being partly unlocked.
He added that the process for achieving full actualisation
of the modern reserve system in consenting states should take off in June.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com