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Discordant tunes as Ekiti moves to regulate grazing

By Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado-Ekiti
11 August 2016   |   2:22 am
Stakeholders are opposed to moves by Ekiti government to regulate grazing in the state.
Grazing Reserves

Grazing Reserves

Stakeholders are opposed to moves by Ekiti government to regulate grazing in the state.

They believe the proposed legislation portends danger to cattle rearing.

The he bill also seeks to prevent herdsmen from going about with dangerous weapons.

During a public hearing on the piece of legislation tagged, ‘Prohibition of Cattle Grazing Bill, 2016,’ and presided over by Deputy Speaker Segun Adewumi, the House of Assembly held that the law, when operational, would halt the rising wave of clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

According to him, government has to put in place an enabling law to check the ugly scenario.

Adewumi argued that the legislation aims at protecting the residents and their properties.

“This forum is for us to aggregate the opinions of stakeholders to address sensitive areas of the bill. The major assignment before this gathering is to critically examine the bill from all sides and angles for possible amendments.

“Our hope is that the public hearing will help the quality of the bill and enhance its quick passage into law,” he said.

But the legal adviser to the Jamu Nate Fulbe Association of Nigeria, Umar Imam, faulted some sections of the bill, which suggest that designated ranches would be provided by government to restrict cattle, saying this will lead to their death and invariably, inflict great losses on his clients.

Stating that the body was not opposed to the passage of the bill, Imam, however, urged the lawmakers to reconsider their stand on banning night grazing.

He implored the lawmakers to mandate those that would move their cattle at that timeto get permission from the state government, noting that compelling situations could make them embark on night journey.

On the ban on arms, Imam contended that the country had enough laws regulating firearms, saying enacting another one could run contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

Also, the representative of the state chapter of Cattle Rearers’ Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Zaiyannu, counselled the lawmakers to take seriously the section that mandates the formation of a vigilance group comprising members of all critical stakeholders’ groups and security agencies for the arrest of those wreaking havoc on farmlands at night.

In his remarks, the Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, who represented the council of traditional rulers, said the monarchs were interested in peaceful co-existence.

Following the May 20, 2016 invasion by suspected herdsmen of Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Council where two people were killed, Governor Ayodele Fayose had pledged to send a bill to the assembly seeking an end to such skirmishes in the state.

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