Governors of Southern states in Nigeria under the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) on Monday after their meeting in Lagos fixed September 21, 2021, as the deadline for the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in all member states.
Speaking Tuesday on this further step taken by the governors to enforce the ban on open grazing in their respective states, an Ijaw leader from Delta State, Chief Julius Babogha, urged the governors to remain resolute and stick to the timeline set for themselves to make the law effective in their states.
“No power, nobody should threaten then from the federal government. They have given enough notice and warning for whoever is involved in open grazing in their various states.
“I want to encourage them to stand their ground and ensure it comes to pass to enable them to enforce the law,” said Babogha.
On the justification of the law, Babogha, who is the Ebebenemowei of Ogbolubiri Mein kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area said, “If there is no law banning open grazing, then they should try and formulate one. A bill to that effect is passed in their state houses of assembly, after passing first reading, seconding and third reading and of course, it is assented to by the individual state governors.
“So, anybody that disobeys the law should be arrested and charged to court. Let the offender face the wrath of the law.
“Nobody should take laws into their hands by killing anybody, by fighting but it should be done in a judicial manner.
“Why won’t the governors of southern states not react and make a law to protect their people, the same way they northern governors felt the sale and drinking of alcohol in their states was bad and they went to ahead to promulgate a law to prohibit it their states.
“So, whatever their people are doing in the southern part that constitutes a threat to the lives and property of the southern people their governors have every right within the law to protect the lives and property of their people.
“They (southern governors) didn’t say their people cannot bring cows or cattle to the southern part, they can do so but it should not open grazing that they are going about staying in the forest. No, it shouldn’t be that way again. It should be regulated.”
