The Chairman of the Southern Governors forum and Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said that the decision to ban open grazing is irreversible and will be fully enforced.
This followed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Shehu Malami media interview where he described the Southern Governors decision as unconstitutional.
Akeredolu in a statement he personally signed challenged Malami to approach the court to challenge the legality of the Laws of the respective States baning open grazing and decision of the Southern Governor Forum taken in the interest of their people.
The statement read in part,
”The AGF is quoted to have said that this reasoned decision, among others, is akin to banning all spare parts dealers in the Northern parts of the country and is unconstitutional.
”It is most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distill 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 anyway 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.
”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.
”Mr Malami is advised to approach the court to challenge the legality of the Laws of the respective States baning open grazing and decision of the Southern Governor Forum taken in the interest of their people. We shall be most willing to meet him in Court.
”The decision to ban open grazing stays. It will be enforced with vigour.”
