President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor
Ohanaeze lauds Gov Ugwuanyi for signing anti-open grazing law
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has lauded the Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for signing the anti-open grazing bill passed by the State House of Assembly into law.
A statement by signed by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, Wednesday, disclosed that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization had met with the South-East Governors in Owerri, Imo State, where it urged all of them to put machinery in motion for laws on anti-open grazing.
The statement commended Ugwuanyi for keeping faith with the agreement reached by Southern Governors, adding that the law was expected to improve on the existing peace and security in Enugu State.
Ohanaeze further said that Governor Ugwuanyi had shown character and integrity, even as the statement added that Ohanaeze would continue to engage other Governors of the region who were yet to initiate action on the ban on open grazing until the entire region was free from herders-farmers conflict.
“Ohanaeze commends Ugwuanyi for keeping faith with the agreement reached by the Southern Governors. Ugwuanyi’s assent to this bill is expected to improve on the existing peace and security in Enugu state. Ugwuanyi has shown character and integrity. Ohanaeze Ndigbo owes it a duty to continue to engage other South East governors who are yet to initiate action on the ban on open grazing until the entire South East is free from herders-farmers conflict,” Ohanaeze said.
Part of the statement reads: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide applauds Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu State for signing into Law the Bill by the Enugu State House of Assembly on anti-open grazing. The bill which is for a law to prohibit open grazing, regulate cattle ranching, and for connected purposes was recently passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo, at a meeting with the South East Governors in the Government House Owerri, Imo State, had urged all the Governors in the South East of Nigeria to put machinery in motion for laws on anti-open grazing.
“The Ohanaeze position is rooted in its philosophy for peace and unity in the country. Ohanaeze had noted that the major source of conflict between the herdsmen and the Igbo indigenous farmers is the unconscionable open grazing by the herdsmen.
“Nothing can be as disheartening as waking up in the morning to discover that one’s farm has been ravaged by cows. The worst is that any form of protestation by the indigenes against the willful damages will be met with all forms of attacks including, kidnapping, torture, maiming and in some cases killing.
“It is to curb the conflicts that arise from the herdsmen-farmers relations that in the month of May, 2021, the 17 Southern Governors resolved on the ban of open grazing in Southern states. They recommended that the Federal Government should support willing states to develop alternative and modern livestock management systems.”
