BAN ON OPEN GRAZING: MALAMI CAN'T DICTATE TO US, OUR DECISION IRREVERSIBLE, —GOV AKEREDOLU VOWS

Ondo State Gov., Rotimi Akeredolu.

The governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, said the decision jointly taken by the Southern Governors Forum remains in force. He dismissed e statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation, Shehu Malami, who said the resolution by the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing in their respective States, was akin to banning all spare parts dealers in the Northern parts of the country and unconstitutional.

Akeredolu noted that nothing could be more disconcerting than the Attorney General’s statement which he said was most unfortunate that the AGF was unable to distil issues as expected of a Senior Advocate.

Hear him: “I have just read the press statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Shehu Malami SAN on the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing in their respective States. 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.

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“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.

Akredolu added that 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 was not only strange, but annoying, and betrayed a terrible mindset.

“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 Governors 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,” Akeredolu maintained.

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