Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 4th December 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 04/12/21
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BREAKING: Boko Haram Terrorists Currently Attacking Borno Town, Nigerian Soldiers Repel Attacks
Boko Haram terrorists have launched an attack on Malam Fatori, a border town and headquarters of the Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Malam-Fatori is one of the two local government areas without human activities where Governor Babagana Zulum had insisted on returning displaced persons by December 31.
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According to security sources, the terrorists are presently engaging the army formation in Malam-Fatori. The attacks started on Friday evening.
In a report by Punch, there were 500 mobile police personnel deployed to clear the town in preparation for the return of 1,000 refugees from the Niger republic.
This is besides the army base stationed in the deserted town and other security agents like NSCDC, DSS and the civilian JTF that were posted there to help in securing the town for the safe return of the refugees.
The mobile Police crack team have also abandoned the town and returned to Maiduguri while the military personnel are still there.
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Sanwo-Olu’s “White Paper”, Walk For Peace Or Trampling On Truth, By Bolaji O. Akinyemi
The Author, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
The Apostolic Round Table (ART) having read through the White Paper released by the Lagos State Government on the report submitted by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution of SARS-Related Abuses and Other Related Matters into the massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October, 2020 viewed the White paper a grand betrayal of trust of relatives of the dead, the injured, Lawyers, the Justice and everyone that participated in the over one year exercise. The White Paper also made it abundantly clear that the State government is under some “unknown” pressure that made it lost the will and independence to accept untainted truth.
The Author, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
Nigerians are not new to government at different levels setting up Panel of Inquiry to buy time after heinous human right crime has been committed against the people or when their common wealth were looted by the agent(s) or appointee(s) of the government that set up the Panel. Peradventure the panel’s report succeed in generating a White Paper, one can bet a hand that the recommendations will not be implemented. Governments knows that a breaking news of criminal events in another State, Ministry, Agency or Department will distract Nigerians attention.
The idea of picking and choosing the Panel’s recommendations to suit the State government appallingly shows disregard and disrespect for men and women of the bench and others that painstakingly listened to victims and witnesses during the sessions. Where is the notion that ‘you cannot be a judge in a case where you are a party’.
All the senseless conspiracy theories and fallacies from government legal team, officials and Abuja liars will suffer the same fate as lies concocted in the past. Initially, the soldiers were not invited but later the truth came up (that it was the governor that invited the murdering soldiers). Before, no live amunitions were used, now it was both live and rubber bullets. Before, It was a demon from hell that love darkness that switched off the lights, now it was the Toll Gate management staff carrying out instructions from an “unknown Director”. The C in C and his camp even tagged the protest “a coup decisively dealt with” (imagine a president’s thought!) We now know that the soldiers were actually briefed and came to deal with the “coup plotters” and restore the C-in-C to power. A minister even came uninvited, did a shameful “Inspector Parrot” tele-detective investigation and discovered an exhibit that he publicly declared he had handed over to the State government. Today, nothing was heard from the SAN turned Detective. Methink that what government had suffered from all these lies and manipulations will help it to change its approach and tactics and embrace genuine reconciliation and healing.
Only God knows who bewitched the State government to come out disputing the number of deaths as stated in the Panel’s report. What does this government stand to gain from reducing nine deaths to one, if not to irritate and enstrange itself from the people . When you invited and unleashed briefed soldiers, not with whips, batons or tear gas but with live amunitions on armless youths, what did you expect?. Need any one tell our governor that soldiers are only trained to “kill and destroy” more so that their C-in-C has declared the targets as “coup plotters”. It is not rocket science to know that “unknown soldier” are trained to ensure their victims (coup plotters) end in “unknown graves”. Please, ask the Orkars if Gideon Orkar’s s body was released to them for burial. Bodies of coup plotters, (I suppose) are properties of the Government. The debate about the number of dead bodies seen on the spot, in the mortuary or attended to by a Professor is irrelevant. The soldiers will let you see what they want you to see.
There are families out there who lost their loved ones to the senseless attack who were forced to accept their fate and declined appearing before the Panel for fear of being persecuted in future. They are vindicated today as people who showed courage to appear before the Panel are now being attacked by government sponsored lackeys.
Any efforts to twist and turn the Panel’s report will only worsen the battered image of this government on this incident. For example using Professor Obafunwa’s testimony as to the dead bodies examined by him, under cross-examination by the Lead Counsel to the victims of the Lekki Massacre, Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika SAN, the Professor claimed that he attended to ninety nine dead bodies between 20th and 24th of October, 2020. He further testified that three out of the ninety-nine dead bodies were from the Lekki Toll Gate and one out of the three had a projectile that penetrated his heart, leading to the loss of his life.
The questions then are:
1. Why did the White Paper shun and disregard the testimonies of the three leading #EndSARS protesters/eyewitnesses, to wit: (1) Serah Ibrahim (who led the contingent of Victims of Lekki Massacre and represented by Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika SAN), (2)Dabira Ayuku (who led the contingent of #EndSARS Protesters as represented by Adesina Ogunlana and (3) Ayo ADEMILUYI with Kamsy Ibeh (who was attacked by assailants a week ago). The witnesses testified under oath to the fact that they saw several dead bodies after the shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army at the Lekki Toll Gate on that fateful day of 20th of October, 2020? Ignoring their testimonies and asking them to come and walk with you is insulting sir.
2. Assuming without conceding that only one soul died at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th day of October, 2020, does it not behove the Lagos State Government to take responsibility after accepting all the recommendations of the Panel that confirmed same and tender unreserved apology to both wounded victims and families of those who died in the massacre?
3. How many number of people would have died at Lekki to extract compassion and apology from this government?
Only one man, George Perry Floyd Jr. died in the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota police officers that generated global outrage (just like Lekki Toll Gate massacre). The officers were arraigned, tried and convicted. The Minneapolis Police Department and the Minnesota State Governor apologized and paid compensation to the family and the black community, the then Democratic Party Presidential candidate, Joe Bidden Jr. paid condolence visits. Where is wickedness and arrogance taking us to in this country?
Mr Governor, do you in all honesty believe that your proposed walk will be truly seen by men of good conscience as WALKING for peace and not as TRAMPLING on the grave of the dead, blood of the injured and the truth revealed in the Panel’s report. But again, Mr. Governor, why now? Moreso when nothing has been done yet to compensate victims and their family or punished anyone indicted in the Panel’s report before a walk of the type proposed can be embarked upon. You must have heard that most concerned and aggrieved have declined taking part in this TRAMPLING called WALKING.
Your Excellency, we just hope you will not descend so low to deceive yourself and yours (but the world will not be fooled) by mobilizing your party men, garage lackeys and street urchins who are at your beck and call and can be induced with SWAGA packs, to embark on the proposed TRAMPLING.
Some of the names mentioned in the State Governor’s press briefing have spoken. In their opposition to the planned walk, Mr. Adedayo (Mr.Macaroni) said “no one is warring with the government, what people want is justice”. Seun Kuti also in similar vein said: “it is justice that can bring peace”
Mr. Famoroti complained that “the people he would like to walk with are locked up in various cells and prisons”
To all the churches in Lagos State, the time is ripe to proof that there is still a healing balm in Gilead. We call on all our fathers in Lord: Pastor E.A Adeboye, Pastor W.F Kumuyi, Bishop David Oyedepo, Bishop Olumakaye, and other Generals in Christ, to please lead our Governor and State to the fountain of truth that makes for the healing of Lagos where the blood of innocent cries.
If the Governor really wants to walk his talk, he should personally invite aggrieved stakeholders (no security agencies for now please) to hear how the bereaved, hurt and injured can be assuaged. Money alone cannot heal the wounds occasioned by the incident.
The Panel has done it’s work, it is now in your court to show HUMILITY and LEADERSHIP. It will start from tendering GENUINE UNRESERVED APOLOGY to ALL on behalf of yourself, your government and all Agencies that were directly or remotely mentioned in the incident. This will set the tone for healing. You will be surprised at how victims will open up even more than they did during the Panel sessions.
However, instead of WALK FOR PEACE we will suggest a WALK FOR HEALING or WALK FOR JUSTICE.
Mr. Governor, you want PEACE, the people (the hurt and the bruised) want JUSTICE. Peace is a product of Justice. If it’s about putting the Lekki Toll Gate pain behind us, listen to the people first.
“Can Two Walk together except they be agreed?”
Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi
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E2%80%99s-president-not-west-africa-taste-%E2%80%98jollof-rice%E2%80%99-chido-nwangwu South Africa’s President Is Not In West Africa To Taste ‘Jollof Rice’, By Chido Nwangwu
I do know that South Africa’s President, Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, is not, currently, engaged in a site-seeing trip for west African traditional dances.
He’s not in West Africa to taste whose jollof rice is better….
As a strategic thinker, he envisions some opportunities from some of the challenges facing Nigeria. After all the pursuit, protection and promotion of the national interest of any serious country is Not a sentimental activity.
Amidst Covid-19 ‘Omicron’ concerns, he has concluded his visit to the “giant of Africa”, Nigeria; first of four-nation West Africa visit.
Ramaphosa is in Côte d’Ivoire on December 2 and 3, where he will address the opening session of the Africa Investment Forum. He will be in Ghana from December 4 to 5; concluding in Senegal from December 6 to 7.
President since February 15, 2018, came into limelight as a young and vibrant former trade union leader around the time Nelson Mandela was released from an isolated jail at South Africa’s Robben Island.
Without any doubt, Ramaphosa has been in the mainstream of the politics of national liberation and economic empowerment of the indigenous African populations and the so designated ‘colored’ peoples of South Africa.
It is important to note that he was the lead negotiator for Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) during the transition from apartheid to the multi ethnic democratic South Africa. He was one of the architects of the first election in April 1994 which led up to the emergence of Mandela as the first post-apartheid South Africa President.
Also, his influence grew in the 1990s from his being the leader and mastermind of what was — at the time — South Africa’s most powerful trade union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Mandela privately indicated to his confidantes that Cyril would be a worthy, likely, future president….
Apparently, Ramaphosa knew his time would come, much later, he chose to operate primarily within the lanes of financial and economic clout.
Regardless, he kept a very diligent focus on the activities and leadership dynamics of the African National Congress (ANC) — as chronicled in my 2022 book titled MLK, Mandela and Achebe: Power Leadership & Identity. MLKMandelaAchebe.com
Ramaphosa was born on November 17, 1952. On December 18, 2017, he was elected President of one of the oldest political parties and liberation movements in Africa. The rest, as they say, is history….
A few years afterwards, with a mix of valuable investments, expansion of opportunities for Blacks and strategies partnerships, Comrade Ramaphosa turned out to become a very successful and wealthy business executive. He has also served as chairman of the board of the information, telecommunications and financial services company, MTN; among others. USAfrica and USAfricaonline.com News Index 2021 on Ramaphosa indicate he is worth, at least R7 billion South African Rand (US $500 million).
Recall that on July 9, 2021, in my weekly column on this platform, I wrote a commentary titled “Zuma’s woes and waste of Mandela’s legacy.” It focused on what happened on July 7, 2021, whereby South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma — the 79-year old grandfather and (former) freedom — handed himself to the police at a correctional services facility (prison)….
Fact is that the failures of the ANC has been devastating; causing it to lose elections/seats which millions of people thought were ‘safe seats’ for the ANC. No; not anymore!
My point remains that It’s sad but true that some of the notorious financial criminals who are making living difficult for those deprived peoples of South Africa rose to power under the umbrella of the ANC, the countless abuse of the rights of both the citizens of South Africa and especially the seasonal violence and xenophobia visited upon other African residents and migrant workers in different parts of the richly blessed country!
Seriously, I think he wants to, realistically, enhance the clout of South Africa and optimize its position as an influential power player and potential leader across the continent. But he hast to get his national domestic environment right, first.
*Dr. Chido Nwangwu, author of the 2022 book, MLK, Mandela & Achebe: Power, Leadership and Identity, serves as Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, USAfrica magazine; established USAfrica in 1992 in Houston. He has appeared as an analyst on CNN, SABC, SKYnews; and served as an adviser on Africa business to Houston’s former Mayor Lee Brown. @Chido247
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How Nigerian Senate Paid N1.7billion For Cars Without Receipts, Deducted Over N200million Taxes Without Remitting
File photo used to illustrate story.
Civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has decried the misappropriation of funds by lawmakers of the upper chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly as revealed by the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report.
Taking to its Twitter handle on Friday, SERAP stated that the senators deducted that N176million and N39million as tax from staff salaries with no evidence it was remitted to the relevant authorities.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The body also noted that N1.7billion was paid by the Senate for the supply of vehicles and other office equipment but there are no supporting documents for the payments.
The tweets read, “Nigeria’s Senate reportedly deducted N176,267,255.31 as PAYE from staff salaries but “there was no evidence to show that the above amount was remitted to the relevant tax authorities.” N39,776,437.54 was also deducted as VAT but no evidence that the money was remitted.Nigeriaâ??s Senate reportedly deducted N176,267,255.31 as PAYE from staff salaries but â??there was no evidence to show that the above amount was remitted to the relevant tax authorities.â? N39,776,437.54 was also deducted as VAT but no evidence that the money was remitted.— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) December 3, 2021
“Nigeria’s Senate reportedly paid N1,718,130,630.24 between February and December 2019 for the supply of vehicles and other office equipment. N657,757,969.05 was also paid between July and December 2019 for the same items. But “there are no supporting documents” for the payments.
“Nigeria’s Senate reportedly paid N423,370,000.00 for the supply of utility vehicles and production of National Assembly Logo between August and November 2019. But “there is no evidence of payment.”
On Thursday, SERAP in a series of tweets explained how the members of the House of Representatives obtained N2.5billion as running costs in 2019 but refused to pay back the money.
Also, about 59 members of the House of Representatives who also took loans worth N258 million have refused to pay back the loan.
The National Assembly Service Commission in 2019 reportedly paid N31 million to 59 staff members as “personal cash advances” but failed to retire the money.
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EXCLUSIVE: Lagos Govt Disburses N450 Million To Higher Institutions For Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Peace Walk
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
The Lagos State Government has disbursed N450 million to higher institutions in the state for the peace walk announced by the state governor.
A government source told SaharaReporters on Friday that the state government paid the money to solicit the support of young Lagosians for the ‘peace walk’, to ensure the governor does not walk alone.
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor disbursed the money to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the state for the peace walk, which is likely to be held on Monday, SaharaReporters learnt.
“Lagos State Government has disbursed N450 million to higher institutions for peace walk, which will likely be held on Monday.
“Universities, polytechnics and colleges of education are the beneficiaries,” the top source said.
On Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu had revealed plans to organise a peace walk in December 2021, in commemoration of the #EndSARS movement.
Sanwo-Olu, during a press briefing at the Government House in Alausa, Ikeja on Tuesday said he will be leading the peace walk to herald the healing of the land.
This comes after the state government in its White Paper on a report by the #EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry on General Police Brutality Cases and Lekki Incident Investigation, accepted only 11 out of the 32 recommendations made by the panel.
The panel concluded that the Nigerian Army and police shot and killed peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, the epicentre of the demonstrations against police brutality, on October 20, 2020.
But the government in the White Paper flayed some claims in the report, maintaining that it was full of discrepancies, irregularities and inaccuracies with claims of deaths of victims.
Sanwo-Olu had further extended an open invitation to youths, civil society groups, journalists, students and other stakeholders to join him in the peace walk.
However, some of his invitees have already rejected the invitation with some youths in the state declaring that the state governor will walk alone.
It should be noted that students of the Lagos State University (LASU) have expressed their readiness to participate in the ‘Lagos Peace Walk,’ proposed by Sanwo-Olu.
This was made known on Thursday by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the school, Oladipupo Uthman Badmus, during the sitting of the Students Representatives Council, the legislative arms of the SUG.
The sitting was the first council session to be held at the newly built students’ Arcade in the school, which was inaugurated by Sanwo-Olu on Thursday.
“Mr. Governor, sir, it is what you signed up for but we are indebted to you. Be rest assured, whenever you walk, we will walk with you. We will be by your side. Whenever you run, we will run with you to the end,” Badmus assured on behalf of LASU students.
However, it is not clear if the union executives were motivated by money or the newly inaugurated project in their school.
Also, rights activist and member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, Segun Awosanya yesterday said he would join Sanwo-Olu in the proposed peace walk.
When SaharaReporters contacted the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, he declined to comment on the matter.
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Protests In Osun As Trigger-happy Policeman Shoots Commercial Driver Dead
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A truck driver was on Friday shot dead by a yet-to-be-identified police officer at the Ota-Efun area of Osogbo in Osun State
Some angry drivers, however, blocked roads in Osogbo to protest the death of their colleague.
File photo used to illustrate story.
It was learnt that the deceased who was driving a borehole drilling truck was brutalised before he was shot dead.
Daily Post reports that the drilling truck broke down along Ikirun road around 10:30am.
The driver and his crew were said to have allegedly blocked the road while trying to fix the vehicle before the arrival of the police officers.
According to the report, an eyewitness said, “the police officers who came down from a mini commercial bus (Korope) hit the driver with a shovel under the truck before he was shot with a pistol in the chest.
“The police officers, immediately after the act, took off their uniforms and ran away.
“Police were shooting guns and teargas to scare away the angry crowd, while they took away the corpse of the driver.”
However, the chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Oroki Park, Osogbo, Adewale Kareem (Asiri Eniba), who showed up at scene, calmed down the protesters while he urged them to unblock the road.
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E2%80%94-governor-ortom-tells-buhari Declare Miyetti Allah As Terrorists, They Have Bandits As Members — Governor Ortom Tells Buhari
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged the Federal Government to declare Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN and Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM as terrorist organisations.
SaharaReporters had reported last week that a Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, outlawed the activities of groups linked to banditry and declared their activities as acts of terrorism.
The court had asked President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to publish the proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies.
Speaking on Friday in Makurdi, Ortom said the bandits being mentioned were mostly from Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, MACBAN and FUNAM and so they should be designated as terrorist groups as well.
He said, “I want to commend the Federal Government for being bold to designate bandits as terrorists. But I call on the government to also include Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN and Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM in the category of terrorists because those bandits are their members.”
Ortom urged the people of the state to support security agencies with useful intelligence in the fight against criminality and other forms of insecurity, pointing out that security is everyone’s business.
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BREAKING: Lagos Government Indefinitely Shuts Dowen College Where Deceased 12-Year-Old Was Allegedly Tortured For Refusing To Join Cult
The Lagos State Government has ordered the indefinite closure of Dowen College, Lekki, following the death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr), who was allegedly beaten by colleagues for refusing to join a cult.
The closure, the state government said, is pending the outcome of an investigation into Sylvester’s death.
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Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo announced the closure after a meeting with the management and staff of the school on Friday.
Following the death of 12-year-old Sylvester, the management of the school had earlier ordered that academic activities be put on hold for two days — Friday 3rd and Monday 6th of December.
This was disclosed in an email the school management sent to parents on Friday morning.
Though the school did not make a direct reference to Sylvester’s death, it said the stay-at-home was necessitated by the current happenings and the emotional disposition of its pupils.
The school also said it would allow the pupils to revise for their forthcoming examinations.
The email reads, “Dear Parents,
“In view of the current situation concerning the school and considering the emotions of our students, we have advised that our students stay home tomorrow Friday 3rd and Monday 6th.
“This will also afford the students opportunity to revise for their forthcoming examinations starting next week.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
On Wednesday, a social media user, @perrisoromoni, who is also a relation to the deceased, lamented the death of his cousin who was allegedly beaten to death at Dowen College, Lagos.
The young man who took to his Twitter handle alleged that the deceased was beaten to death after he refused to succumb to pressure by fellow pupils to join a cult.
According to him, the deceased mentioned the names of five persons responsible for the pain before he finally gave up the ghost on Tuesday.
On Friday, Sylvester Oromoni, father of the deceased 12-year-old pupil said the pupils who bullied his child, were once suspended temporarily by the school after they asked the boy to describe his sister’s private parts.
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Three Suspected Fraudsters Arrested With 1144 ATM Cards At Nigeria’s Kano Airport
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Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three suspects at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano while attempting to smuggle 1,144 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards out of the country.
The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Usman, Musa Abubakar and Abdulwahid Auwalu.
File Photo
They trio were arrested between November 24 and December 1, 2021 by state zonal command of the agency.
Spokesperson for the agency, Wilson Uwajaren said the suspects would soon be charged to court.
He said Abubakar was found with 714 ATM cards while Usman had 298 ATM cards with him.
Abubakar was going to UAE while Usman was going to Saudi Arabia.
The third suspect, Abdulwahid, was found with 132 ATM cards while trying to go to Istanbul, Turkey via Ethiopian Airlines.
In a related development, a Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, presided over by Justice Uche Agomoh on Thursday convicted and sentenced two internet fraudsters, Ogunrinde Olugbenga Akanbi and Olusegun Akinwunmi Eyinade to ten months and three months in prison respectively, on separate charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation.
The charge against Ogunrinde reads: “That you, Ogunrinde Olugbenga Akanbi “M” on or about the 11th day of February, 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Iga Swiatek, a female Tennis player from Warsaw, Poland via your Facebook account with Gmail address- swiatekiga105@gmail.com, with intent to gain monetary advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the same Act.”
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E2%80%94cross-river I Won’t Sign “Draconian Anti-open Grazing Law” Because Herders Are My Brothers—Cross River Governor, Ayade
The Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade has said the anti-open grazing law which some southern states have passed based on the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum might lead to war in the country.
Ayade said such laws, without taking into consideration the concerns of nomadic herdsmen and farmers, might pose more danger as it might lead to anarchy across the country.
The governor also gave reasons why the state government had yet to pass the law in line with the resolution reached by the Southern Governors’ Forum during one of their meetings.
Ayade, who called the nomadic herdsmen his brothers, revealed that his government would come up with an Open Grazing Management Law which would accommodate the concerns of farmers and herders.
The Governor noted this during a press conference in his office on Thursday.
The governor said, “Just ask yourself one minute, ‘Is this your body you’re carrying just a mere body ready to be robbed?’ Why this huge material drive? How would you as a nation legislate to illegitimacy, a legitimate trade of a people, the nomadic herdsmen? You cannot by law make illegitimate a legitimate trade of a people.
“You have a responsibility as an educated person. We sit in the office and that’s why even though certain governors have made it clear that governors must pass the anti-open grazing law, I have not because I’ve found a solution to it.
“My herdsmen brothers of north or south extraction, to shut down their trades, stay confined in a place whether they have a pasture or not, it doesn’t matter to me. So if I have a brother from Yobe state in a semi-arid condition with no grass and having no money to do irrigation to sustain his pasture, will I make his business illegitimate, shut him down and close him from survival? That is insensitive. What I think is anarchy, a deliberate invitation to war. That is inviting the nation into war.
“I ask myself if indeed open grazing is coming with this consequence? The sociology and anthropology are unacceptable and we must find a way to create means and balance between the herders and the farmers. That’s the essence of being a leader.
“So before I pass the law, I decided to pull back and find a solution. That is why in Cross River, we’re coming with an Open Grazing Management Law. I think morally, ethnically, it is unacceptable to prohibit a trade that existed before I was born. I’ll rather find a way to modulate it so that it will meet the definition of modern animal farming or husbandry. I think because it’s a profession, a business, it’s also a fundamental right of people to do the business.
“Unfortunately, because of the social imbalance, associated pressure, demographic exposure, economic growth, most farmlands have been taken from infrastructure development at the moment. There’s a constriction that the 933,000 squares kilometres of land in Nigeria is no more expanding. Development is expanding and taking them, honestly, so we’re bound to have pressure.
“It’s our duty as a government to find a solution because indeed if we pass such a draconian law, and they also pass theirs, and we pass another, gradually we’re getting into war. But I’m a conformist. I belong to a certain governors’ forum and they said we should pass the law. I’ll pass the law but by the time the law is out, you’ll see that the law is coming with concerns for both parties.”
Some residents of Cross River have expressed the view that Ayade has been pro-President Muhammadu Buhari since he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ayade formally defected to the ruling APC in May 2021 after months of speculations that he would do so.
Herders are predominantly Fulani, like President Buhari.
Buhari has on several occasions been accused of not doing enough to curb the atrocities of suspected Fulani herdsmen and openly supporting open grazing, which often pits Herders against farmers.
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