By Iliya Kure
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, has criticised Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami for kicking against the resolve of southern governors to ban open grazing in the region.
About two weeks ago, Governors from southern part of Nigeria, in a meeting in Asaba, banned open grazing within the region over security concerns, especially clashes between Fulani herders and farmers.
Attorney General of the Federation, Malami, was said to have frowned at decision of the Governors meeting.
But in a statement, Governor Akeredolu urged Malami to approach the court if he has anything against their decision, maintaining that the ban on open grazing has come to stay and will be enforced with utmost vigour.
“Comparing this anachronism, which has led to loss of lives, farmlands and property, and engendered untold hardship on the host communities, with buying and selling of auto parts is not only strange. It, annoyingly, betrays a terrible mindset,” Akeredolu said.
The Governor expressed worry that Malami who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, can compare a well-structured business such as spare part business with archaic method of cattle grazing.
While emphasising that the decision to ban open grazing was taken in the interest of the people, Akeredolu said, “It is most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distil issues as expected of a Senior Advocate. Nothing can be more disconcerting.
“This outburst should, ordinarily, not elicit response from reasonable people who know the distinction between a legitimate business that is not in any way injurious and a certain predilection for anarchy.
“Clinging to an anachronistic model of animal husbandry, which is evidently injurious to harmonious relationship between the herders and the farmers as well as the local populace, is wicked and arrogant.
