Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has threatened legal action against President Muhammadu Buhari if he decides to implement the Grazing Reserve Policy.
President Buhari had, last week, approved recommendations of a committee to review “with dispatch,” 368 grazing sites, across 25 states in the country, “to determine the levels of encroachment.”
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The president’s directive followed his approval of the recommendations of a committee chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari.
Among others, the committee had recommended the collection of field data on 368 grazing reserves across 25 states to assess encroachment and encroachers, stakeholder engagements and sensitisation.
Ortom, in an interview with journalists in Makurdi Sunday, insisted that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria superseded the Northern Nigeria Law that provided for grazing reserves.
He maintained the state government under his watch would not accept the grazing reserve policy.
The governor stressed that Benue would not concede any land for the grazing policy.
“The truth is that if the entire country had accepted ranching, then why is Mr President insisting on open grazing when there is no land for such.
“In the 50s when this policy was initiated, what was the population of Nigeria? It was less than 40 million but today we are more than 200 million. The 923 square kilometres is not even enough to cater for the population. The reason Mr. President is insisting, to some of us, I think there is a hidden agenda.
“Mr. President has aides. The Attorney General of the Federation, Malami (SAN) and other lawyers around him should advise him. For God’s sake, it is laughable and it appears we do not know what we are doing.
“Under my watch, this state will not accept open grazing. I have already briefed my lawyers should Mr. President insists on going ahead with the policy,” Ortom said.
It’s misplacement of priority — Afenifere
The Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has described the president’s move as a misplacement of priority.
The group said the recent actions of President Buhari has proved that Nigeria “is fast becoming a dictatorial and tyrannical state.”
The organisation stated this in a statement issued on behalf of its acting leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
Afenifere said that it was forced into the “unsavoury conclusion” about Buhari in view of various actions and pronouncements of the federal government in recent times.
“The dictatorial tendency of the president can be seen in his insistence to go ahead with reopening grazing routes and establishment of ranches in the country when the preponderance of opinions across the country is to do away with open grazing,” it said.
Afenifere called on Buhari to ‘redirect his administration adroitly”, adding that the government must embrace democratic ethos immediately by pursuing only policies that are in the best interests of the people.
Afenifere stated that on several occasions, the Buhari-led administration had “taken measures that were totally against the interests of the Nigerian populace.”
“Contrary to the promises made during the electoral campaigns by the President and his party, the All Progressives Congress, the prices of commodities and services have skyrocketed while social services delivery and infrastructure kept receding.
“The worst aspect of all these is the level of insecurity today. At no time in the history of this Nigeria had life was so cheap and living was so precarious as they were presently. Unfortunately, those who should act are expressing their helplessness as exemplified by the call of Katsina State Governor Bello Masari on the people of the state to find the means of securing themselves against bandits who have literally taken control in many parts of the state,” the statement added.
Pay govs N6.25bn for ranching — Falana
Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) also cautioned the federal government against plans to revive grazing reserves in 25 states.
In a statement Sunday through Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Falana said the federal government did not control land use in the country.
He also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to pay the special allocation of N6.25 billion already made to Katsina State to other states to enable them adopt ranching in line with the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the government.
“It is time the attention of the federal government is drawn to the position of the law to the effect that while the land in the Federal Capital Territory is vested in the president, the land in each state of the federation is exclusively vested in the governor pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Act, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” he said.
From Hope A. Emmanuel (Makurdi), Abdullateef Aliyu (Lagos) & John Chuks Azu (Abuja)
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