Open Grazing Ban: You Have A Terrible Mindset – Akeredolu Blasts Malami

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has lashed out at the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami over his recent statement on the decision by the southern governors to ban open grazing in their region.

Akeredolu in a personally signed statement after the comments attributed to the AGF submitted that Malami’s position betrays a terrible mindset.

He added that it was ‘most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distill issues as expected of a Senior Advocate.’

Naija News recalls that Malami while condemning the ban on open grazing by the governors of the 17 southern states, declared that the ban is equivalent to prohibiting spare parts trading in the north.

According to the AGF, the decision of the governors does not align with the provisions of the constitution and “does not hold water”.

However, in a response to the Minister’s position, Akeredolu has fired back, noting that Malami is in the wrong in comparing the ban on open grazing with the sale of spare parts.

He added that there is no going back on their stand and the Governors are ready to meet the AGF in court if he wants to challenge their decision to ban open grazing which was done after a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.

“Clinging to an anachronistic model of animal husbandry, which is evidently injurious to the 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 the 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 banning 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,” Akeredolu noted.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu, has expressed concern over the high number of violent attacks on the INEC offices in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Yakubu made the remarks at an emergency INEC meeting for election commissioners in Abuja.

“These are acts of unjustifiable aggression which may undermine the commission’s capacity to organize elections and dent the nation’s electoral process,” he said.