We Will Not Provide Ranches To Enforce Anti-Grazing Law – Governors

Herdsmen to illustrate the story

The governors of Benue, Taraba and Ekiti State have stated that they would not heed the call by the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to create ranches for herdsmen before enforcing the Anti Grazing Law put in place by the States, insisting that the Police boss has no right to tell them how to make the legislation work.

During a separate interview with Sunday Punch, Gov. Samuel Ortom (Benue); Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) opposed the advice by the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to create ranches before they commence the implementation of the anti-grazing Law, asking the Police Boss to implement the law instead of giving them lectures on how to pacify the herdsmen.

Naija News Gov. Ayodele Fayose speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said that Ekiti State Government would not heed IGP’s advice.

“The Inspector-General of Police has no choice than to obey the laws made by any state. It is the duty of the police to enforce the law. Cattle rearing is regarded as a private business and it is not the duty of the governors to provide land for the herders.

“The real cattle owners are rich people who can afford land; they are not the nomads you see following cattle from the North to the South” he said.

The Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Emmanuel Bello, stated that the law was the only solution to the problem of Herdsmen/farmers clashes

“We have already enacted a law, but we are still prepared to listen to any good idea that brings about peace and mutual understanding among stakeholders.” He said.

On his part, the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom,who spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Lawrence Onoja Jr., challenged Idris to approach the court if he was not comfortable with the implementation of the law.

“Ibrahim Idris’ directive to state governors to establish ranches before operating grazing laws is totally against the Nigerian constitution and the act that established the Nigeria Police.

“It is not his duty and he does not have power to direct governors. The police are not to interpret the law but to enforce it. Therefore, it is not for the IG to determine whether a law is right or wrong. It is the duty of the judiciary to interpret laws. If a law is passed and the IG feels it is not good enough, the best thing to do is to challenge the law in the court for interpretation”. Onoja Said.