PMB And Anti-Open Grazing Laws !! By Akeem Adebiyi
PMB And Anti-Open Grazing Laws !! By Akeem Adebiyi Gbolagade.
Of all the contemporary issues in the Nigeria’s body polity, security is the most frequently commented on. And, it is hydra headed.
It started inform of farmers-herders incessant clashes across all the geo-political zones in Nigeria. Really, the herders were always adjudged as the aggressors. This is obviously so as they have succeeded in sacking most of the farmers from their plantations with the usage of lethal weapons.
The reverberating consequences are acute shortage of raw food and the soaring prices of the available few including unemployment in the chain.
In searching for the panacea to this teething crisis, the consensus of opinions tilted in favour of outright cancellation of open grazing in favour of ranching for the cattle. In the real sense of it, the technological nature of ranching and the merits therein outweighs the demode practice of open grazing in all fronts .
Of significance, ranching shall eradicate the incessant confrontations between the herders and farmers. Hence, peace shall reign in the land and the citizens shall be spared of all the allied skirmishes.
In fashioning out the modus operandi, there exists feelings of distrust and suspicion on the parts of the stakeholders. As usual, primordial interests in form of undue ethnic favouritism takes the front seat. Alas, the herders are mostly Fulanis.
Their umbrella body, Miyetti Allah was not favourably disposed towards the introduction of ranching. Rather, the body prefers the strict maintenance of the status quo ante. This position was fiercely opposed by the elites, most especially, the state governors.
The anti-open grazing campaigns were promoted by the governors of the southern states ably led by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Also, some Governors from the Middle-Belt aligned themselves with the stance of their counterparts from the south.
In the ensuing controversies, President Muhammad Buhari(PMB) took a position. Strangely, he did not support modernisation option in “RANCHING”. Rather, he canvassed for the reactivation of the traditional/ancient grazing routes in Nigeria. He tasked the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation to dig out an enabling gazette to this effect.
Observers interpretes the PMB’s action as nepotistic in favour of his kinsmen. For example, the Fulanis. Expectedly, the southern governors were undaunted by the President’s move as they went ahead to enact the ‘ANTI-GRAZING’ laws.
It is regrettable to note that PMB’s position on this matter is capable of destroying the fragile unity that exists among the tribal/ethnic groups in Nigeria. Also, it should behove on PMB that his action is undemocratic as majority of Nigerians are in support of Ranching.
Moreover, we should take cognisance of the fact that most of these grazing routes under reference had been taken over by developments like modern housing units, recreation centres, hospitals and the likes. Would it not amount to reversal of fortunes and wild goose chase should the Federal Government(FG) stick to reactivating the old grazing routes?
On this matter, presidency should hearken to wise counselling and allow good, but, popular reasoning to prevail.
