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BREAKING: Southern Governors’ Ban On Open Grazing Political, Unconstitutional – Presidency

The prohibition on open grazing enacted by the Southern Governors has been chastised by the White House. The Southern Governors allegedly attempted to impose a moratorium on open grazing to display their dominance, according to the report.

On Monday, Garba Shehu, a senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, issued a statement to that effect. President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Shehu said, has indicated a strong commitment to resolving herder conflicts, as well as the problem of gun-wielding “killing herdsmen.”

According to him, the “President had approved a number of specific measures to bring a permanent end to the frequent skirmishes as recommended by Alhaji Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture, in a report he submitted and the President signed off on back in April, well before the actions of the Southern Governors Forum, which attempted to place a ban on open grazing and other acts of politicking.”

“It is apparent that their resolutions did not provide a solution to the herder-farmer conflicts that have raged in our nation for generations.”

“However, inhabitants of the southern states – indeed, people of all Nigerian states – have a right to expect their elected leaders and representatives to find solutions to governance and human rights concerns, rather than to wash their hands of difficult decisions by issuing prohibitions that declare, “Not in my state.”

Mr Shehu further stated that their announcement is problematic in legal terms.

He underlined the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms in each of our 36 states (and the Federal Capital Territory), regardless of where they were born or live.

“Fortunately, this declaration has been preempted, for whatever purpose it is intended, and Mr. President, who has rightly been concerned about these issues more than any other citizen, commissioned and approved an actionable plan of rehabilitating grazing reserves in the states, beginning with those that are truly committed to the solution and compliant, in consultation with farmers and herders alike.

With veterinary clinics, animal watering stations, and schools for herders and their families, the Federal Government is bringing far-reaching and practical changes to these rehabilitated areas, allowing various populations to coexist side by side: assisting farmers to till their fields, herders to rear their cattle, and Nigerians everywhere to be safe.”

“The entire country is acutely aware of the financial hardship the COVID-19 pandemic has had on both the federal and state governments. Nonetheless, given the critical need to solve the persistent problems, federal financing for the long-delayed project is now being partially freed. In a few of the agreeing states, work on fully implementing the current reserve system should begin in June.”

NEWS DIRECT recalls that seventeen governors from the country’s southern area gathered in Asaba, Delta state, two weeks ago.

A ban on open-grazing of cattle and the need for ranching are among the state governors’ resolutions. The Governors also discussed the urgent necessity for reorganization in order to achieve parity with other areas.

However, the meeting’s statement has sparked arguments about whether the restriction is lawful or not.

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