Femi Falana: Southern Governors Should legalise Open Grazing Ban To Prosecute Offenders
Chukwudi Onyewuchi is a graduate of Geology from Obafemi Awolowo…
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged southern governors in the country to back their ban on open grazing with a legal instrument to enable the prosecution of offenders.
Falana spoke on Wednesday evening while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by newsmen.
Newsmen had earlier reported that about 17 southern governors met on Tuesday in Asaba, Delta State, and resolved to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region. The governors also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation and convoke a national dialogue to address widespread agitations amongst various groups in the region.
Speaking on the television programme on Wednesday, Falana said the ban on open grazing, night grazing, underage grazing was important in securing lives and properties in the country, adding that the ban was also in the interest of the herders.
The senior advocate said, “I have read the resolutions and for me, the governors have done very well. They need to mobilise their northern colleagues, they need to walk their talk because if you expect that the presidency will act on this resolution, the governors may be wasting their precious time.”
“Each of the governors will have to make enabling laws to translate the decision in the communiqué to legal instruments,” he said, adding that governors would have to ensure state attorneys general come together and put in machinery for translating the resolutions into laws.
Falana also lauded the southern governors for demanding the restructuring of the country along fiscal federalism.
“For the entire country, these resolutions will be very useful; they have come at the right time, not too late, the governors have now formally joined the campaign for restructuring,” the human rights lawyer said.
Chukwudi Onyewuchi is a graduate of Geology from Obafemi Awolowo University. He enjoys writing and is passionate about what he does. Hence, he always puts in all of his efforts towards attaining good results and sharing stories that will impact readers and the world at large.