…Asks him to challenge decision in court
…Says decision is irrevocable
Ondo state Governor,Rotimi Akeredolu has described as unfortunate and unbecoming of a senior advocate ,the statement by Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami equating ban on open grazing to banning spate parts sellers.
He said it is unfortunate that the attorney general is unable to distill issues as a senior advocate and asked him to challenge the decision in the court of law.
Governor Akeredolu said on Thursday that the decision of the Southern Governors Forum which banned open grazing in their respective states are final and will be enforced.
Governor Akeredolu in a statement titled ‘Our Decision is Irrevocable and will be enforced’ affirmed that the resolution reached by southern governors will not be affected by the Minister’s comment.
Reacting to Malami’s statement who said the southern governors reasoned decision, among others, is akin to banning all spare parts dealers in the Northern parts of the country and is unconstitutional, said the Fulani herdsmen have distanced themselves from being legitimate owing to their alleged killings of farmers which has engendered untold hardship on the host communities.
“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,” he 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.”
He said in case Mr. Malami is keen to challenge the governors’ decision at the court, they are also willing to follow, reinstating that there’s no going back on their banning of open grazing.
“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,” the statement added.
