The Yoruba socio-political
organisation, Afenifere, on Monday, called on the Federal Government not to
frustrate the enforcement of the ban on open grazing in the Southern part of
the country.
Southern governors had recently
set September 1 as deadline for the ban on open grazing in the region.
The decision was taken to
forestall the persistent killings by armed herders in the Southern part of the
country.
However, Afenifere’s spokesman,
Jare Ajayi, said the federal government might be tempted to want to use its
might to frustrate the efforts of states governments in enforcing the law
because the reality was begining to dawn that there would no longer be room for
cows to roam about anyhow.
Ajayi, in a statement, said the
government may use the police and other security agencies to undermine the
enforcement of the said law.
The spokesman, however, warned
that doing so might be compounding the already bad security situation in the
country.
According to Ajayi: “As the
take-off date was knocking, it was clear that many states were ready to work
their talks going by the way laws to give legal backing to the proclamation
have been passed or are in the process of being passed.
“Of course, a few, a minute few,
were yet to begin the process. As reality in Nigeria has repeatedly shown
however, the problem, most of the time, was not in having a legal instrument in
place but in enforcing the laws. Unfortunately and regrettably, the chances of
its being successfully enforced are slim because of the lopsided nature of the
country’s policing system.
“In Nigeria today, only the
Nigerian Police can investigate and prosecute a suspect in a criminal case.
Since the police is under the firm control of the federal government, it is
possible to use the agency to frustrate the efforts of the states in this
respect. For, as reality in Nigeria has repeatedly shown, the problem, most of
the time, is not just in having a legal instrument in place but in enforcing the
laws.
“Enforcement of the law against
open grazing is made more difficult when the interest of the powerful is at
stake as is the case on this issue of open grazing of cattle. The disposition
of the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari is opposed to the
declaration by the Southern Governors. Therein lies the challenges of how the
law can be successfully made to work as envisaged.”
Ajayi also pointed out that
regional police like Amotekun in the South West and Ebube Agu in the Southeast
should be allowed to supervise the enforcement of the ban.
“It is worth recalling however
that when some states in the north banned the selling and drinking of alcohol
in public, they did not rely on the federally controlled Nigeria Police to
enforce the law in their respective states. Rather, they set up what they
called Hisbah (local police) to enforce the law. In this wise, it may not be
out of place if the states concerned in the South also explore the means of
ensuring the compliance of the laws they passed on grazing of cattle.
“Incidentally, some states
already have an instrument they could use for that purpose. By this one is
referring to Amotekun in the South West and Ebube Agu in the South East. These
local security networks should be allowed to enforce state laws particularly
the one on open grazing. Afterall, the law against the selling and open
consumption of alcohol is being enforced by Hisbah in the North. What is good
for goose should be good for the gander,” he added.
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