Politics
By Benprince Ezeh
THE Global Igbo Leaders, GIL, have urged eastern governors to pass the anti-open grazing law and save the lives of their people.
In a letter dated September 15, 2021, GIL said that when it was announced that open grazing of cattle had been banned by the governors, it gave the people of the region a renewed hope, but to this day, many eastern governors have failed to enact the law.
“On February 1, 2021, the governors of the South-East states of Nigeria announced that open grazing of cattle had been banned in their states. By this announcement, the southeast governors gave the people of the region a renewed hope.
“The governors even claimed that each of their states has enacted a law to give the ban a legal backing to enforce the Anti-grazing Law. On July 5, 2021, the Southern Governors Forum resolved that by September 1, 2021, all member States shall have enacted Anti Open Grazing Laws.
“As at today in Igbo speaking states, only Enugu and Rivers states have taken steps to act on these pronouncements. Both states have passed the law and we warmly congratulate them for working towards protecting the lives of Ndigbo,” they said.
According to them, several organizations, including the Association of South East Town Unions, ASETU, Alaigbo Development Foundation, ADF, Igbo World Assembly, IWA, World Igbo Congress, WIC, Anioma Redemption Group, Igbo Board of Deputies, One Voice Women Group UK, and prominent Igbo personalities have raised their concerns about the governors’ inability to enact the law and to enforce the ban on open grazing as they had promised Ndigbo.
“In spite of the September 1, 2021 target date having passed, other member States have not given any indication of when they would enact the law. We note that Imo and Abia states have laws that were enacted a number of years ago. It is important that they be amended to reflect the nature of today’s challenges.
“Cows still parade the roads of Alaigbo at will, even near Government Houses; they brazenly invade schools’ premises, offices, among other public establishments. More importantly, cows still commonly invade farmlands and private premises leading to clashes with farmers and people trying to protect their properties.
“As governors, you were elected to protect the properties and lives of the citizens of Alaigbo.
“The GIL wishes to remind you, our governors, that President Buhari’s kinsmen in Katsina Emirate have banned open grazing and have put machinery in place to enforce it. If Buhari’s Kinsmen could take steps to protect northern lives and properties, what are our governors waiting for to protect IGBO lives and properties? “A number of southern states have also passed the anti-open grazing laws. What are our governors waiting for? People are asking questions and Global Igbo Leaders, GIL is now asking the same questions.
“The economic lifelines of Ndigbo are being destroyed, the lives and orderliness of Igbo society and community system are being threatened, Igbo security and ability to defend ourselves is being tested. Ndigbo are being provoked daily and our governors pretend nothing is happening and continue to treat Ndigbo with disdain.
The GIL challenges the silence of our governors and their inability to fulfill their promises to Ndigbo,” the Igbo organisation said.
First published – Sept. 29, 2021 @ 17:37 GMT | C.E
Tags: Alaigbo Development Foundation Association of South East Town Unions Global Igbo Leaders Igbo World Assembly World Igbo Congress
