Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Southern Governors

Buhari tackles Southern Govs on open grazing ban
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday expressed a strong resolve to address the conflicts of herders and farmers for a permanent solution.
The Nigerian leader also ordered that the associated problem of the gun-wielding “killer herdsmen” be tackled.
Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, in a statement recalled Buhari approved measures to bring an end to the skirmishes as recommended by Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture, in April.
The presidency insisted that Buhari’s action was before the ban on open grazing by the Southern Governors Forum.
The statement noted it is very clear that there was no solution offered from the governors’ resolutions to the herder-farmer clashes “that have been continuing in our country for generations”.
Garba said the citizens of the southern states and others have a right to expect their elected leaders and representatives to find answers to challenges of governance and right.
“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.”
Shehu said the governors’ declaration has been preempted, “for whatever it is intended to achieve”.
He noted that the President has rightly been worried about these problems more than any other citizen in consultation with farmers and herders alike.
Shehu said Buhari 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.
The aide added that the 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.
May 24, 2021
Malami To Southern Govs: Grazing Ban Is Like Prohibiting Spare Parts Trade In The North
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has likened the ban on open-grazing by southern governors with the prohibition of spare parts in the north.
Southerners are the ones dominating spare parts trade in the northern part of the country.
Responding to a question when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, Malami described the action of the southerner governors as illegal.
Daybreak reported that at a meeting in Asaba, Delta State Capital, last week, southern governors announced a ban on open grazing in the region.
The governors cited the rising cases of kidnapping and killings as the reason for their action.
But Malami said no Nigerian has the right to deny his fellow citizens of their rights of freedom of movement.
He said, “It is a very dangerous position for any governor in Nigeria to think that he can bring about any compromise on the freedom and livery of individuals to move around.
“Within the context of the freedoms enshrined in our constitution, can you deny a right of a Nigerian? It is as good as saying may be the Northern governors coming together to say that they prohibit spare parts trading in the North. 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?”
“If you are talking of a constitutionally guaranteed right, the better approach to it is perhaps to go back and ensure that the constitution is amended. The freedom and liberty of movement, amongst others is established by the constitution.
“If by an inch, you want to have any compromise, the better approach is to go back to the National Assembly for open grazing to be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment in that respect but it is a very dangerous position for any governor in Nigeria to think that he can bring about any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.”
May 20, 2021
Inflammable Asaba Southern Governors Meeting
Until now, many have wondered that unlike their northern counterparts with formidable alliance, the southern governors have not seen the need to network. There are nine Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, seven All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and only one All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 17 states. The governors, who were united by their resolve to make Nigeria work, did not betray partisan sentiments, but agreed among other issues that the President address Nigerians to restore the people’s confidence.
In a 12-point communiqué read by the Forum’s Chairman, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at the end of its four hours meeting, the Southern Governors expressed displeasure with the worsening state of insecurity and noted that the situation revolves around agitations over restructuring, but affirmed that that the peoples of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the unity of Nigeria. The governors stressed that the unity of the country should be “on the basis of justice, fairness, equity and oneness and peaceful co-existence between and among its peoples with a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity. “The progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian federation to berth evolution of state police, review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments and creation of other institutions, which legitimately advance commitment to and practice of true federalism. “The FG should convoke a national dialogue as a matter of urgency, based on the widespread agitations among various peoples for greater inclusiveness in existing governance arrangements.
One of the controversial agreements from the Asaba meeting was ban on open grazing. Open grazing of cattle has often caused conflicts between host communities and migrant herders, leading to deaths in many states. Some of the herders have also been accused of committing other criminal acts like armed robbery, rape and kidnapping. Expectedly, while the North kicked vigorously against the position of southern governors, southern leaders embraced the move and called for necessary legislation to back the ban on open cattle grazing.
Firing the first salvo of opposition was Prof. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), who faulted the decision because the Southern governors did not consult Fulani leaders before making the ‘No Grazing’ regulation
While appearing on AIT breakfast show, Kakaaki, Yusuf said: “Southern governors must provide land for Fulani bandits to graze their cattle if they want to ban open grazing. Gathering in one hotel and giving a blanket ban is irresponsible.”
Other divergent reactions came in torrents. The National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhassan Saleh, called the ban an empty policy. “The governors are confused and mischievous, are herders the problem of this country? Are they IPOB killing people up and down, burning police stations?”
However elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said the ban is not necessarily binding on the Federal Government. The founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum said: “Nobody can enforce its position on another person in Nigeria”.
Although Yakasai was in support of the governors’ demand for alternative measures to address the spate of insecurity in the country, he however urged the leaders to clearly spell out in affirmation, the kind of alternative measure they require from the Federal Government.
“It is unfortunate the advocates of restructuring have failed to clearly clarify in specific terms what they mean by restructuring. In white and black, what does restructuring Nigeria means? Well, as for me, I want to believe there are provisions in the Constitution for whatever anybody wants. Why can’t we take the advantage of that position to either amend or change the Constitution to suit our desires? But it is important to know that we are in a democracy and the principle is simple. It says the minority can have their say but the majority will have their ways.”
Interestingly, former Senate Majority leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, noted that the Southern governors deviated from the issue by banning open grazing of cattle in all 17 states of the South. He accused the governors of engaging in a blame game, which according to him, could not solve the problem. “As far as I am concerned, this blame game will not solve the problem. Governors are the chief security officers of their states, so, why are they talking about the President without talking about themselves? The governors are deviating from the matter.”
Significantly, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has applauded the resolution of Southern governors. National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Mr. Ken Robinson, said the people had expected the governors to meet before now, but however, “it is a good thing that they have met. “We have seen the communique. It is very commendable. Their resolutions re-emphasized our positions, particularly on restructuring; open grazing, and the alarming state of insecurity.”
Defending the stand of the southern governors against the barrage of criticisms from the north, Chairman of the Southern Governor’s Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, explained why the Forum placed a ban on open grazing across the region. Akeredolu during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, said “we felt that this open grazing must stop. It is causing a lot of problems particularly between the herders and the farmers. Whether we like it or not, times have changed and this must change. We must adopt a modern system of animal husbandry. In this day and age, they cannot continue taking cows by foot from Kano to Port Harcourt,” he said.
If the proportion of the Asaba meeting is to reshaped opinions and providing proven facts that could help us our nation comes out the present challenges. We cannot but embrace it resolutions, while not lose sight the of prevailing poverty and inequality; eroded life-expectancy; skyrocketing unemployment; ruinous infrastructure; dilapidated social amenities; over-dependency on the mono-culture economy; crushing inflation; disdain for justice; glorification of corruption; and promotion of mediocrity over meritocracy.
Adefolarin A. Olamilekan
Political Economist & Development Researcher
Email:adefolarin77@gmail.com
Tel: 08073814436, 0810740787
May 17, 2021
People Who Oppose Southern Governors On Open Grazing Have Hidden Agenda – Ortom
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said anyone who opposes the southern governors on open grazing ban is an evil person who has a hidden agenda.
The governor stated this on Thursday in Makurdi during the ‘Media Week and Communications Day 2021’ organised by the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi.
“Anybody that is castigating them for coming together to say that it is no longer feasible to do open grazing in Nigeria is an evil man with a hidden agenda,” he said.
“If you have land in your state and you think you can accommodate open grazing, you are free to do that. I am surprised that some people have taken to criticise and castigate the southern governors. Southern governors have not done anything wrong; they have done the right thing.”
While noting that his southern counterparts had towed the right path of addressing insecurity in Nigeria, Ortom stressed that open grazing was no longer feasible in the country due to development and population growth.
He insisted that the nation had great potentials and should, ordinarily, have no business with poverty if the security of life and property were guaranteed in communities to allow for farming and other ventures to flourish.
Ortom appreciated the church and Muslims in the state, as well as residents for remaining supportive of his administration.
He added, “They have not done anything strange. It is what we started in 2016 and it is what also the Northern Governors Forum met some time ago and adopted that moving forward in this country, we must adopt ranching.
“I appreciate my colleagues and the people of the Southern part of Nigeria, 17 governors coming together to adopt ranching as the global best practice and the best practice in Southern Nigeria.”
May 15, 2021
Why we banned open grazing in Southern Nigeria – Gov Akeredolu
The governors of the seventeen Southern states on Tuesday, May 11, met in Delta state where they banned open grazing and called on President Buhari to address Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity.
Chairman of the Southern Governor’s Forum and Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, read the communique from the meeting. Read here.
In an interview with Arise TV on Wednesday, May 12, Governor Akeredolu explained why the Southern Governors Forum placed a ban on open grazing of cows in states across the region.
In his words
“It is not an entirely new issue. Most of the governors have placed a ban on open grazing in their states before the meeting. We looked at what is happening in our respective states. Most of the states have passed laws on open grazing. Virtually all of us have passed that law. We felt that this open grazing must stop. It is causing a lot of problems particularly between the herders and the farmers.
Whether we like it or not, times have changed and this must change. We must adopt a modern system of animal husbandry.
In this day and age, they cannot continue taking cows by foot from Kano to Port Harcourt,” he said.
Governor Akeredolu said the Federal Government needs to throw its weight behind state governments that want to set up ranches. According to him, this would benefit herders who are exposed to dangers as they roam with their cattle.
“At the meeting, we referred to what Governor Ganduje said. It was clear that he is also against open grazing. He says it does not augur well and the herders also do not benefit from it. There is no development, they are exposed to dangers.
That why we suggested that the Federal Government should intervene to help these herders. The Federal government should give money for ranches to be created. That is why it is part of our recommendation that states who want to create ranches be supported.” he said
May 13, 2021
Open Grazing: Falana Commends Southern Governors, Urge Them To Walk the Talk
Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has commended the southern governors for banning open grazing in the 17 southern states of the country.
Falana, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, asked the governors to back their ban on open grazing with a legal instrument to enable the prosecution of offenders.
He also asked the governors to ensure state attorneys general come together and put in machinery for translating the resolutions into laws.
“I have read the resolutions and for me, the governors have done very well. They need to mobilise their northern colleagues, they need to walk their talk because if you expect that the presidency will act on this resolution, the governors may be wasting their precious time,” he said.
“Each of the governors will have to make enabling laws to translate the decision in the communiqué to legal instruments.”
The popular lawyer also reacted to the governors’ demand for restructuring of the country, coupled with the issue of control of resources.
He said their resolution was timely, especially as it relates to their quest for fiscal federalism in the country.
Falana added, “For the entire country, these resolutions will be very useful; they have come at the right time, not too late, the governors have now formally joined the campaign for restructuring.”
His comments come 24 hours after the regional governors converged at the Delta State Government House in Asaba to hold talks on the state of the nation.
After the meeting on Tuesday, the regional governors announced a ban on open grazing in all the 17 Southern states.
They also recommended that the Federal Government should support willing states to develop alternative and modern livestock management systems.
They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency and importance, address Nigerians on the frightening state of insecurity across the nation and convoke a national dialogue.
The meeting followed the worsening insecurity in the country ranging from terrorism to banditry, militancy and calls for secession.
May 12, 2021
Southern Governors Ban Open Grazing, Seek Restructuring, Ask Buhari To Address Nigerians
Southern Governors have banned open grazing of cattle across states in the region and urged the President to address Nigerians on the state of the nation.
The Governors also called for the restructuring of the country to address increasing agitations in different parts of the nation, while restating their commitment to the unity of the country.
The Governors stated these at the end of their meeting in Asaba, the Delta State Capital, on Tuesday.
Physically in attendance were the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Rivers State Governor, Nysome Wike; Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun; Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; among others.
They were received by the host, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Some of the states and sub-regions have previously banned open grazing.
In February, the Nigerian Governors Forum, representing all 36 states in the country, said it had reached a consensus on the “need for the country to transition into modern systems of animal husbandry that will replace open, night, and underage grazing in the country.”
The ban on open grazing comes as herdsmen violence continues to be reported across the country.
Beyond the herdsmen crisis, the country continues to groan under diverse security threats, including but not limited to an insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and secessionist agitations in the South-East and South-West.
May 11, 2021
Insecurity: Heavy security in Asaba as Southern Governors meet
There is heavy security in Asaba the Delta State capital as southern governors meet today, Tuesday.
Security operatives were seen at strategic points in the capital to forestall any unforeseen occurrences.
The road leading to the Government House, the venue of the summit has been barricaded while security at the entrance gate has also been beefed up.
Reports had it that the persistent attacks on police assets and killings of policemen in the south-east and south-south, and kidnappings would be top on the agenda for the meeting.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olise Ifeajika, said that almost all the governors are expected to arrive in the state today (Tuesdays).
He said, “Yes, we are happy to have them, the meeting will hold in the government house; after the meeting, decisions will be taken and the communique will be read.”
Details to follow…
May 11, 2021