By Alltimepost.com
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]eport of a public lecture series organized by a Non-partisan Nigerian political group, the Gatekeepers in Benin City, Edo State, last Thursday has cited Edo State Government for a seeming graveyard silence on the implementation of the existing Laws for the regulation of the movement of herdsmen and animals.The report which contained lectures/recommendations delivered by professors from varied academic disciplines sought to proffer solutions to the menace of herdsmen in Edo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
In a lecture, titled: Law and Movement of Animals in Towns and Cities of Edo state, which formed part of the report, released by Gatekeepers at the weekend, Dr. Faith O. Osadolor of the department of Public Law, faculty of Law, University of Benin noted that every Nigerian citizen “is protected by the constitution of Nigeria to move freely throughout Nigeria and reside in any part thereof,” but that movement of animals could be very fast, criminal and harmful to citizens if not restricted in scope.
He explained the existence of relevant Laws in Edo state for the regulation of the movement of herdsmen and animals in the state, but regretted that they were not being implemented.
“Surprisingly, there appeared a graveyard silence by Edo state government as per the implementation of the existing Laws for the regulation of the movement of herdsmen and animals.”
According to him, comparative analysis between Argentina which is said to be one of the highest producers of cattle in the world and Edo state clearly shows that animals do not have to move from one city to another in search of fodders in Argentina because the cattle owners have acquired ranches for the purpose of feeding and care for their cows.
He therefore called for the outright ban on movement of animals, and that such policy will benefit the people, the government and the herdsmen.
Edo state government, he advised should take the lead in Nigeria in adopting a modern approach in cattle rearing, such as the Argentina model as it relates to the establishment of private ranches by cattle owners.
Also in a lecture on: The Conflict between the Nomadic Herdsman and Farmer in Historical Perspective, Professor Ehimika A. Ifidon of the department of History and International Studies, University of Benin noted that Africa had usually been regarded as the continent with the highest number of conflicts.
According to him, the number of deaths resulting from the conflict between the nomadic herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria has added another element to the tenor of insecurity in Africa.
“The conflict between the herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria is a conflict over resources, primarily water and pasture.
“In an already unstable environment like the Niger Delta, protracted farmer/herder violence has the potential to aggravate pre-existing tension,” noting the fact that there is no grazing land in the South to satisfy the hundreds of cows that come from the North to South.
“The clashes between the farmers and herdsmen in Edo state are testimonies to the ecological incompatibility of the South with nomadic pastoralism.”
He stressed the need to disallow open grazing and that ranches should be encouraged in addition to the possibility of the promise by the Nigeria minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh who had earlier stated that the federal government was making arrangements to import grass (fodder) from Brazil to assist the herdsmen.
Technical Options for Responding to Open Cattle GRAZING in Edo state was the title of the lecture delivered by Dr. Jim Omoyakhi of the department of Animal Science, faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin.
In the paper, he explained that encroaching into farms, the nuisance of cattle roaming about and sometimes at the tarmacs of a Nigerian airport was an embarrassment to the people and government of Nigeria.
“Farmers-herder conflicts resulting in raping, maiming, lost lives, arson and destruction of property have escalated to the level of serious security challenges that are threatening to tear the country apart along ethno-religious lines.”
He suggested the need for a quick response from government by enacting anti-open grazing laws in all states in Nigeria, conduct massive campaign to encourage private ranches and develop a workable formal education for nomads.
He said that the commitment of government and all stakeholders towards modern grazing technique will produce a good breed of cattle, profit enhancement for the cattle owners and increase income for states and national government.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Justice Roland Amaize (Rtd) expressed satisfaction with the conference and thanked the insight of the organizers for their commitment to the public lecture which he described as topical and important to Nigerians.
The occasion featured comments and recommendation from participants, including
the Special Guest of Honor and chairman of Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, who emphasized the importance of the public lecture and explained the seriousness of the herdsmen menace in Edo state.
Dan Orbih posited that it was the concern for the wellbeing and security of lives and property of Edo state that motivated the PDP to sponsor a bill to Edo state House of Assembly seeking the enactment of law for the prohibition of open grazing in Edo state.
He added that the PDP was not only committed to winning elections but equally to take the responsibility of social and political education of the citizens, stressing that his party was willing to assist the government to proffer solutions to the menace of herdsmen and other areas of need for the development of Edo state.
Chief Orbih called on the government to be accountable to the people and that there was the urgent need for Edo state government to rise up to its responsibility of the protection of lives and property.
Professionals from the Legal, Medical, Business and other members of Edo state public appreciated the efforts of the organizers of the public lecture and Edo state PDP’s patriotic initiative to send a bill to Edo state House of Assembly for the prohibition of open grazing in the state.
They were unanimous in condemning the menace of herdsmen in Edo state, describing their actions as criminal and a clear danger to the peace and progress of the state.
The lawyers among the participants equally reiterated the decision of Edo state chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), to send a similar bill to Edo state House of Assembly to seek laws prohibiting open grazing in the state.
Participants affirmed their support for the initiative of the PDP and called on Edo state House of Assembly to see the bill sponsored by Edo state chapter of the PDP from a bi-partisan view, stressing that the bill should be given urgent consideration and its passage to enact a law prohibiting open grazing in Edo state. Participants expressed their support and preference for private ranches.
Participants also concluded with a call for more voters’ education and the election of a credible and accountable leadership that will appreciate and be committed to the importance of the security of lives and property of Edo state in particular and Nigeria in general.
Theme of the Public Lecture was: The Herdsmen Menace in Edo state, with the objective defined as: The public discourse of a private-member bill sponsored by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Edo state chapter, to Edo state House of Assembly, seeking for a Law to Prohibit Open-grazing of Livestock in Edo state.
GateKeepers is a non-political organization committed to the enthronement and sustenance of Democracy in Nigeria.
