Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has explained why he
would not sign the anti-open grazing law, like other Southern states.
Ayade explained that the anti-open grazing law already
passed by some states might lead to war in Nigeria.
The governor, who described herdsmen as his brothers, warned
that if such laws fail to consider the concerns of herders and farmers, it may
lead to anarchy and endanger the entire country.
Addressing journalists in his office, the Governor disclosed
that his government would come up with an Open Grazing Management Law that
would accommodate both the farmers and herders’ concerns.
The Governor said making herders’ business illegitimate by
signing the law was insensitive.
According to Ayade: “How would you as a nation legislate to
illegitimacy, a legitimate trade of a people, the nomadic herdsmen? You cannot
by law make illegitimate a legitimate trade of a people.
“You have a responsibility as an educated person. We sit in
the office and that’s why even though certain governors have made it clear that
governors must pass the anti-open grazing law, I have not because I’ve found a
solution to it.
“My herdsmen brothers of north or south extraction, to shut
down their trades, stay confined in a place whether they have a pasture or not,
it doesn’t matter to me.
“So, if I have a brother from Yobe state in a semi-arid
condition with no grass and having no money to do irrigation to sustain his
pasture, will I make his business illegitimate, shut him down and close him
from survival? That is insensitive. What I think is anarchy, a deliberate
invitation to war. That is inviting the nation into war.”
Ayade said he opted to find a solution, hence the decision
of his government to come up with an “Open Grazing Management Law.”
He stated that the new law by his administration would
“modulate” to infuse modern animal farming or husbandry.
Some Southern states have started passing the anti-open
grazing law that is aimed at regulating herders within their domains.
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Are there leaders threatening u? If this people want to resort to war because of anti grazing law of some southern states it shows they have ulterior motive for insisting to be in the south before they can do their herders business. There are so many places where herds are being reared without going about to trespass on other people's property places.
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