By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Tanko Yakassai has cautioned governors of the south east region to desist from self help and remain committed to the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended in the management of affairs of their states
The elder statesman and aide to former president Shehu Shagari, was reacting to the recent ban of herdsmen movement in the region by the governors over the issue of killing and kidnapping by suspected herdsmen in the region.
While reacting to the ban, Yakassai said, every Nigerian is constitutionally empowered to practice his trade in any part of the country.
Yakassai said: “The cattle do not move about on their own. There are herders who move them about and these herders are Nigerians. You cannot ask any Nigerian not to go to any part of the country because the constitution guarantees freedom of movement for all.”
“If you are asking the Fulani not to move with their cattle, will you also ban commercial drivers who ply various routes linking one part of the country to another?” Yakassai inquired.
“You cannot do anything outside what the constitution says. If you do, you are resorting to self help and that will not augur well for our country. Like I said earlier, there is no point banning cattle rearers from moving about with their herds.”
“Where there are established cases of cows eating up crops, there are ways to deal with this and if there are issues bothering on security, we have the security agencies to call upon to do their job,” he said.
