Open Grazing: Stop Crying For Miyetti Allah, End Herdsmen Killings – Falana To FG

Femi Falana (SAN) has slammed the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government for rejecting some Southern governors’ ban on open grazing.

According to NEWS DIRECT, 17 southern governors met in Asaba, Delta State, to ban cattle movement by foot in the area.

In a statement released by Buhari’s media assistant, Garba Shehu, the president said the governors’ conduct is of “questionable legality,” considering the fundamental right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms in all 36 states (and the FCT), regardless of where they were born or live.

Falana, speaking on Tuesday at the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law Annual Conference 2021, questioned why the president was raising concerns about the ban when Miyetti Allah had approved the governor’s decision.

According to the senior lawyer, the President’s position on the issue has further polarized the nation, which is already facing many challenges to its unity.

He said, “More than ever before, the media and the Nigerian Bar Association ought to intensify the campaign for the actualisation of the provisions of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

“In particular, this is the time to mount sufficient pressure on all governments to provide for the welfare and security of the people pursuant to section 14 of the Constitution.

“However, in its belated response to the reckless killing of farmers, destruction of farms, kidnapping and raping of women by killer herders, the federal government has decided to revive grazing reserves as a knee-jerk reaction to the decision of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing.

“Thus, the reaction of the Presidency has further polarised a country whose unity is being seriously threatened by separatist groups. But the reaction is uncalled for having regard to the fact that the National Economic Council and the Nigeria Governors Forum had banned open grazing and resolved to embrace ranching.

“Whereas the Presidency has said that the fundamental right of armed herders cannot be abridged, why has the Federal Government decided to restrict the movement of cattle to grazing reserves?

“Last Friday, the Federal High Court ruled that state governments have the power to enact anti-grazing laws. Therefore, it smacks of brazen official impunity on the part of the Presidency to have said that the ban on open grazing is of doubtful legality.

“Even though it has been said that the policy would take off in June, not a single grazing reserve has been identified, prepared and put into use. Similarly, the Federal Government had announced in 2016 that 55, 000 hectares of land had been acquired in 11 states for the establishment of ranches.

“By April 2018, the Federal Government launched the National Livestock Transformation Plan with emphasis on the establishment of ranches. The Federal Government later turned round to adopt Cattle Colony and Ruga policies which were rejected by a number of state governments.

“Instead of further dividing the country along ethnic lines, we call on the Federal Government to halt the mindless killing of farmers and kidnapping of innocent people by killer herders.

“Instead of weeping more than the bereaved, the Federal Government should listen to the Miyetti Allah which has accepted the ban on open grazing and demanded the establishment of ranches.

“Since there is a popular demand for the proscription of open grazing, all hands should now be on deck to establish ranches without any further delay.

“From the information at our disposal not less than 24 states have applied to the Federal Government for the grant to establish ranches. The Presidency should not compound the crisis by giving the erroneous impression that grazing reserves are different from ranches.”