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Nigerians weep as Malami compares open grazing of cows to spare parts business
KAZIE UKO
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has continued to trend since Wednesday night when he passed his judgment on the Southern Governors Forum resolution banning open grazing of cows in their various states.
Malami, while answering questions with regard to the governors’ decision to ban open grazing, as part of measures to mitigate high rate of insecurity and incessant herders-farmers conflict, had described the resolution as unconstitutional.
But the issue that has got many people incensed was the Attorney General’s bizarre comparison of open grazing of cows in the farm lands and public places to spare parts sales in shops and market places.
Said Malami: “It is about constitutionality. Within the context of the freedoms enshrined in our constitution, can you deny a right of a Nigerian? It is as good as saying may be the Northern governors coming together to say that they prohibit spare parts trading in the North. Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a Northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the North?
“If you are talking of a constitutionally guaranteed right, the better approach to it is perhaps to go back and ensure that the constitution is amended. The freedom and liberty of movement, amongst others is established by the constitution.
“If by an inch, you want to have any compromise, the better approach is to go back to the National Assembly for open grazing to be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment in that respect but it is a very dangerous position for any governor in Nigeria to think that he can bring about any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.”
Responding to Malami’s statement, the Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, said the decision of the governors was “irreversible and will be enforced”.
READ: Akeredolu slams Malami on open grazing ban, says go to court
Akeredolu in a statement on Thursday, personally signed by him, said: “Comparing this anachronism, which has led to loss of lives, farmlands and property, and engendered untold hardship on the host communities, with buying and selling of auto parts is not only strange. It, annoyingly, betrays a terrible mindset.
“Mr Malami is advised to approach the court to challenge the legality of the Laws of the respective States banning open grazing and decision of the Southern Governor Forum taken in the interest of their people. We shall be most willing to meet him in Court.
“The decision to ban open grazing stays. It will be enforced with vigour.”
Nigerians on Twitter have also not spared the Attorney General.
Uwem Essia @uwemessia says of the Minister’s logic: “His arguments are to say the least bereft of simple logic. See him compare open grazing and spare parts business! With people like these around the President, it is understandable why all these are happening.”
Kelechi Philip @KelechiPhilip3 also weighs in: “Do they sell spare parts in ur (your) farms? How many people have been displaced from their homes & villages by spare parts dealers in ur state? How many have been raped & killed in their farms by spare parts dealers? A SAN drawing such comparison is very disgraceful to say the least.”
For Chima @ChimaUwaezuoke, “We’re in trouble. A very big trouble. Is this an attorney general and minister of justice? Damn!!!”
Abisoye @OloyeOfAkure said: “Lol his (he’s) talking about the rights of cows. This just confirms the fears of the North. I hate to sound tribalistic but this is sad, I don’t understand anything anymore. Can we just say it as it is, these people are mad. This system is not sustainable.”
READ: Southern Governors call for restructuring, national conference; ban open grazing
MARCELLINUS @okwumarcellinus contributed: “We are finished in this country! How can attorney General draw this kind of similarity? SAN?”
Said FRED UDEH OKUM @fredola47: “Pls educate me…whose freedom of movement is guaranteed by the constitution? The HERDERS or the COWS?”
Maraizu Nosiri @menosnature said: “I did not know that a lawyer could make such a silly comparison, even on a live television broadcast. I listened to him on CHANNELS TV say that and I immediately updated my opinion about him.”
For @Mss_Jolene: “Open grazing is not a human right, it’s a dumb thing to do as it’s benefit is little or zero. The cows are exhausted from the long walk across states, the children are tired and exposed to all kinds of danger. I can’t even believe he brought up spare part as an example.”
Reacting, tony ajiri @tonyajiri said: “The real agenda as to why herdsmen are armed with AK47 to forcefully take over lands by killing and maiming the people of Nigeria while government keeps mum is no more shrouded in secrecy.”
Jaffet Mijo @Jaffetmijo queried rhetorically: “I don’t get! Does the Nigerian constitution now guarantee the right to freedom of movement to cattle? Or is @malamisan deliberately twisting the facts in order to confuse the gullible?!
Anyi Ikegwu @Anyik14 wondered aloud and concluded: “What a way to reason. A minister of justice of a country? Nigeria I hail thee. Nigeria can’t move anywhere but to doom with this kind of people.”