[News] Decision to ban open grazing is irreversible and will be enforced – Gov Akeredolu replies Malami

Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has attacked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over his comments on the decision of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing in their respective States.

 

Malami while speaking in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday May 19, said that the ban on open grazing was unconstitutional as it can be likened to the banning of all spare parts dealers in the Northern parts of the country.

 

Reacting to Malaimi’s comment, Governor Akeredolu in a statement he personally signed and issued in Akure said it was ‘most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distill issues as expected of a Senior Advocate.’

 

Read his statement below

”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.

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.

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.

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.”