By Matthew Ajai-Kume
The ban on open grazing as panacea for farmers/herders clashes initiated by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has been endorsed by Nigerian governors, saying it is the only viable solution to the lingering problem.
This was the position of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum during their recent meeting in Ibadan the Oyo State Capital where the group endorsed and declared support on the ban on Open Grazing in the country.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom had signed into law a bill for the prohibition of open grazing and provision for ranching in the state, which was earlier greeted with mixed reactions and personal attacks particularly from the Miyetti Allah Koutal Hore, a Fulani nationality movement, and several other groups.
But PDP Governors in a communique issued after their meeting held at the International Institute For Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Oyo state read by the Chairman, the Sokoto State Governor,Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said, “the meeting supports the early position of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and earlier, the Northern Governor s’ Forum and recently, the Southern Governors’ Forum for adopting ranching as the best viable solution to herders /farmers clashes in Nigeria.”
According to Tambuwal, the meeting also called for “the restructuring of Nigerian Federation to devolve more powers and functions to the states ,and reforms of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria”.
The communique further read: “The meeting called on Mr. President as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the states with respect to security arrangements culminating in some form of state policing and the general security architecture.
“In the interim, Mr. President should summon an immediate meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr. President and all State Governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to our union.
“The meeting agreed that the police force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks. The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority.
“The meeting enjoins all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, and others,” it stated.
According to the Governors, “the meeting further called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country, and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.
The communique also re-iterated their earlier call on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that would ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.