- Bauchi governor apologises to colleagues over inflammatory comment
Governors of the 36 states of the federation under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), yesterday met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa and unanimously voted against open grazing, declaring that it is no longer fashionable.
This decision was reached at their first physical meeting since the coronavirus pandemic hit the country last year February, held at the banquet hall of the State House Conference Center.
Recalled that the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) recently admitted that open grazing is no longer fashionable in modern society.
In a communiqué issued after their virtual meeting, the forum had noted: “The current system of herding mainly through open grazing is no longer sustainable, in view of growing urbanisation and population of the country.”
Consequently, it resolved to sensitise herders on the need to adopt new methods of herding, either by ranching or other acceptable modern methods.
The forum had also appealed to the Federal Government to support states with grants to directly undertake pilot projects of modern livestock production that would serve as a springboard for the full implementation of new methods of livestock production.
South-east Governors had also earlier in the month reiterated their ban on open grazing of cattle in the zone.
The chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi emphasised this during APC stakeholders meeting at the Christian Ecumenical Centre Abakaliki.
But speaking to our correspondent, a top official in the know of the development, said the governors have resolved to build ranches in each state of the Federation to halt wondering which most time leads to crisis with heavy casualties in tow, increasing diary production among others.
The governors are also United against criminalizing ethnic groups for the crime of some bas eggs.
The source who pleaded for anonymity, also said the Governor of Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, apologized to his colleagues if his inflammatory statement were misconstrued.
Mohammed had justified herdsmen carrying Ak-47 rifles for self defence, the pitched him against and his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom,
The Bauchi governor said that the primary objective of his comment was “to avert the dangerous prospect of a nation-wide backlash and generalisation of the Fulani clan as criminals”.
Meanwhile, Governors meeting with Buhari ends with a declaration of commitment to protect lives in their respective states.
The governors are hopeful that a new security architecture will emerge and express readiness to support the military by dedicating funds from excess crude account.
It was learnt that they also discussed the National Livestock transformation plan, review of the nation’s forestry and border management and strengthening of the judicial system.
