Why grazing reserve is unacceptable, by Omu

A Former military governor of Cross River State, Major- Gen. Paul Ufuoma Omu (OFR, Rtd), has said that the grazing reserve bill proposed by the federal government came at a wrong time as land fragmentation and management, herdsmen menace and further encroachment of communities land would be disastrous.

He spoke while answering questions from The Guardian on his 77th birthday at Igbide, Isoko South local government area of Delta State. According to Omu, a former Supreme Military Council member, the 2014 national conference disagreed on the grazing reserve, while the present atrocities perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen have made it unpopular in most communities in Nigeria. The Othuke of Isokoland and the Olodi of Igbide Kingdom stated that “at 77 years “I live freely and innocent as I don’t think of evil against my neighbors; this is not military discipline but how I was raised up which sustained me in the military.”

On the agitation by Nigerians for political and economic restructuring, Omu said decentralizing from the centre which is overloaded and has encouraged looting is acceptable. He emphasized that the 2014 National Conference addressed restructuring and urged the federal government to implement the report. He noted that avoiding the implementation when fundamental issues have not been addressed would cause more agitation.

Omu while condemning any agitation that could lead to war said: “The civil war fought in this country is irrelevant. As a soldier, I participated and i was shot, the wound scars are still there just as the evils of war are inimical to man.”

He noted that the same issues which caused agitation by the Eastern region for secession over 40 years ago have not been addressed, stressing that the 2014 national confab and other conferences report has proffered solution. He urged the federal government to dialogue on the report to avoid further crises.

The former governor condemned the inability of state governors to pay staff salaries, emphasizing that restructuring of the country’s economy will be the answer to the problem. About 28 governors cannot pay the salaries. He noted that if various states are able to contribute equally to the national purse and reduce the construction of oversized projects, which sometimes are later abandoned, that will solve the salary problem.

Omu said the agitation in the country will eventually lead to the implementation of the 2014 national conference report.He enjoined youths to stay away from smoking, kidnapping and armed robbery which, according to him, are cursed by unemployment, numerous girl friends and giving birth to many children without control. He warned that this could lead to untimely death.

Omu who lives a quiet life in the rural area, has no time for many security men, attributing this to peace of mind, confidence and an easy life. He urged the youths to be satisfied with life at every stage as this is a secret to longevity.

The elder statesman while supporting politicians with second tenure ambition as a constitutional right, cautioned them to implement projects that will determine the electorate’s choice of the right candidate to occupy any political office. He urged politicians to stop the “come and embezzle syndrome” as this will also determine second tenure position.
He noted that the electorates are watching and is only those who performed with dividends of democracy that could eventually come back for the second tenure.