State Governors from the Southern part of the country may hold a tete-a-tete with the President Muhammadu Buhari upon the latter’s return from his France trip.
A source in the Southern Governors’ Forum told said that arrangements were being made for the governors to present their resolutions at their meeting, last week, in Asaba, the Delta State capital, to the President.
Recall that governors in the 17 states of Southern Nigeria had, last Tuesday, held a four-hour meeting in Asaba.
As part of their 12-point resolution, the governors led by the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had said, “We observe that the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the southern part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not able to live their normal lives, including pursuing various productive activities, leading to a threat to food supply and general security.
“Consequently, the meeting resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria.”
A top government official in Delta State, who confided in a reporter said, “The forum would definitely meet with the President, but the time the meeting will hold has not been revealed by them. But it is sure that the meeting with the President will hold.”
When contacted the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, said the Chairman of the SGF and Ondo State Governor Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, had stated that the Forum would meet with the President.
Ojogo said, “He (Akeredolu) has stated this already that the forum will meet the President and present the issues raised.”
President Buhari, on Sunday, begun a four-day official visit to France, where he would attend African Finance Summit.
According to the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the summit would focus on reviewing African economy, following shocks from COVID-19 pandemic, and getting relief, especially from increased debt burden on countries.
Also, on Sunday, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria demanded establishment of two or three models of ranches as part of measures to put an end to open grazing.
General Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Ngerzema, who said this in an interview, begged Southern governors over their ban on open grazing.
He urged the Federal Government to assist state governments in establishing model ranches.
Ngerzema said the governors should consider the plights of pastoralists that would be affected by their declaration, saying some of them were born and brought up in those Southern states.
He said, “For the interest of peace and unity of the country, the Southern governors should consider the plights of the pastoralists as bonafide citizens while agitating for the anti-open grazing policy because some of these herders are born and brought up in those states.
“In order not overheat the already fragile security situation of the country, let them all temper justice with mercy.
“We call on state governments to unify purposes in their desire for peace.”