Following an order by President Muhammadu Buhari to review with dispatch 368 grazing sites in 25 states of the federation, southern governors have voiced out, kicking against the development.
Those who tackled Buhari include governors of Delta, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa; Benue, Samuel Ortom; Rivers, Nyesom Wike; and Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
The Southern governors and groups, like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, expressed shock at the decision of the Federal Government to go ahead with the plan to review the establishment of grazing sites across the country despite the stiff opposition to it by the people of Southern Nigeria.
The governors had in May 2021 kicked against the development, resolving that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria.
The governors said the incursion of armed herders and bandits into the southern part of the country had presented a severe security challenge such that citizens were no longer able to live their normal lives.
“Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the South by foot),” the governors had declared.
Again, in July, the governors affirmed their stance on the ban on open grazing in Southern Nigeria.
President Buhari, despite the resistance from the governors, on Thursday, approved the recommendations of a committee to review with dispatch 368 grazing sites in 25 states in the country to determine the levels of encroachment.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari approves review of grazing reserves in 25 states.’
Buhari’s directive was after his approval of the recommendations of a committee chaired by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, PUNCH reports.
Among others, the committee recommended the collection of field data on 368 grazing reserves across the 25 states to assess the level of encroachment and encroachers, stakeholder engagements, and sensitisation.
The committee also recommended the production of maps and geo-mapping/tagging of sites, analysis of findings and report preparation as well as the design of appropriate communication on grazing reserves and operations.
Mr Buhari directed that the assignment be undertaken with dispatch to bring more understanding to the grazing reserves and ensure their implementation.
However, the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Delta State Governor, Okowa, resisted President Buhari’s decision and subtly reminded him that governors had the authority over the lands in their states.
“We are in a country of law and the law has given governors the control of land in their states. The governor is the one who gives the Certificate of Occupancy to every individual and allows them to have full ownership of the land.
“We are convinced that very soon, the Federal Government will begin to have a rethink, knowing well that it is not legal for Mr President to be the one to map out land in the states,” Okowa said in a statement by his Information commissioner.
Similarly, Ortom of Benue state said the Buhari regime had turned the country into a “cow republic.”
Ortom, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said, “In a country where insecurity has reached an all-time high with hundreds being killed by armed herdsmen, bandits and other terrorists, the Presidency is only bothered about animals and their safety and is deploying all machinery and arsenals of government to impose grazing reserves and cattle routes on Nigerians. This is unacceptable!”
9Naija 