Politics

Our decision is irreversible and will be enforced – Akeredolu replies Malami

By Web News 617

I have just read the press statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar 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 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.

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN

Governor, Ondo State

Politics

Southern Governors Ban On Open Grazing Is Dangerous – Malami

By Web News 556

Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, has opposed the southern governors’ decision to ban open grazing in their states.

Mr. Malami said such ‘unconstitutional’ resolution is dangerous for the country.

“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,” Malami said during an interview on Channels Television‘s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.

“It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?

“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.”

It would be recalled that, seventeen governors from southern Nigeria met last week resolved to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region over cases of kidnappings and killings that have been traced to criminal elements amongst herders.

But Mr. Malami disagrees with the governors, saying their decision is against the constitutional right of freedom of expression for other Nigerians who are herders.

Malami asked, “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?”

He advised the governors to first amend the constitution to prohibit open grazing before going ahead with their decision.

“If you are talking of constitutionally guaranteed rights, the better approach to it is to, perhaps, go back to ensure the Constitution is amended.

“Freedom and liberty of movement among others is established by the Constitution. If by an inch you want to have any compromise over it, the better approach is to 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.”

Culled from The Guardian