The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar
Malami, has dropped is under fire for criticizing the southern governors’
decision to ban open grazing in their states.
Malami said such resolution is unconstitutional and dangerous
for the country.
Malami said during an interview on Channels Television‘s
Politics Today programme on Wednesday, “It is a dangerous provision for any
governor in Nigeria to think he can bring any compromise on the freedom and
liberty of individuals to move around.”
Malami without considering the fact that human right is not the
same as animal (cattle) right has said that the constitutionality within the context
of the freedoms expressed in our constitution cannot deny the rights of a
Nigerian.
“It is about constitutionality within the context of the
freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?”
“For example, it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the
northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in
the north.”
Last week, seventeen southern governors met to ban open
grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region over cases of
kidnappings and killings that have been traced to criminal elements amongst
herders.
Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the Chairman of the Southern Governor’s
Forum, explained that the decision is not new as most of the governors have
placed a ban on open grazing in their states before the meeting.
“We felt that – open grazing must stop. It is causing a lot
of problems particularly between the herders and the farmers. Whether we like
it or not, times have changed and this must change. We must adopt a modern
system of animal husbandry,” Akeredolu said.
“In this day and age, they cannot continue taking cows by
foot from Kano to Port Harcourt.”
The governor said the Federal government needs to throw its
weight behind state governments that want to set up ranches, noting that this
will benefit the herders who are exposed to dangers as they roam with their
cattle.
In response to the attorney general of the federation
Abubakar Malami erring and inciting utterances, the chairman of the Southern
Governors Forum Rotimi Akeredolu has challenged him to seek legal redress over
the ban on open grazing by the southern governors.
The chairman of the Southern Governors Forum Rotimi Akeredolu has challenged
the attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami to seek legal redress
over the ban on open grazing.
Akeredolu said in a statement, “It is most unfortunate that
the AGF is unable to distil issues as expected of a Senior Advocate. Nothing
can be more disconcerting.”
“Mr Malami is advised to approach the court to challenge the
legality of the Laws of the respective States banning 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.”
Akeredolu, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) like Malami,
said the attorney general’s comparison of herdsmen and spare parts dealers
“betrays a terrible mindset.”
“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,” Akeredolu
said.
“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.”
The Ondo State governor said “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.”
The human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has also lambasted
the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for saying the
decision of southern governors to ban open grazing is like northern governors
agreeing to ban sale of spare parts which is a market dominated by southerners.
Falana said it was funny that Malami, who is the chief law
officer, was ignorant of the fact that northern governors had taken a decision
to ban open grazing since January.
He said, “On April 27, 2018, the members of the National
Economic Council resolved to ban open grazing and adopt the Livestock
Transformation Plan of the Federal Government. The National Economic Council is
constituted by the Vice President, the 36 State Governors, the Minister of
Finance and the Central Bank Governor.
“On February 9, 2021, the Northern Governors Forum banned
open grazing in all states in northern Nigeria. On February 11, 2021, the Nigeria
Governors Forum banned open grazing in all the 36 states of the Federation.”
The senior advocate said comparing spare parts trading with
open grazing was nonsensical.
Falana argued that spare parts traders pay rents and had been
known to be peaceful in their conduct.
AGF Malami on banning #SpareParts business: In the same Northern Nigeria, Hisbah goes about destroying Southern businesses. Killer Fulani Herdsmen in the South are killing, Raping & destroying farmlands. Terrorists like Isa Pantami are protected. One Nigeria indeed! #BiafraExit pic.twitter.com/Y2GDfVwB3g
— Ada-Eze (@Real_AdaKing) May 21, 2021
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