The lobby against anti-open grazing

Resolve by the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders to appease Southern governors against anti-open grazing law seems a commonsense approach in negotiation among stakeholders. But the spirit and letters of the law demands compliance of all and sundry. Ab initio, the anti-open grazing law is a child of necessity of the 17 Southern Governors who have identified cattle breeding as a private business concern that should not infringe on rights to life and property of land owners. As much as lives of citizens and legitimate landowners are threatened by herders, the basis of lobbying for soft-pedal in the enforcement of anti-grazing law is defeated.  
  

Nigeria has experienced the highest number of farmer-herder fatalities in West and Central Africa. As at 2018, the crisis in the Middle Belt was adjudged to be six times deadlier than the Boko Haram insurgency with over 2000 deaths recorded. Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) recently estimated that Nigeria has lost no fewer than 8, 343 persons to farmers-herders conflict since 2005. The organisation noted that the casualties were as a result of 1,350 attacks spread across 16 states of the federation. That is a gory statistic and a shame on the Nigerian State to warrant a paradigm shift in law enforcement and modality of cattle business – if the leadership means well for the country.
   
Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, clearly placed security of lives and welfare of the people as the primary responsibility of government, which takes precedence over private or sectional interests. Obviously, the lot of the larger responsibility falls on the state governors to enforce the law in unison and all parties should comply in the interest of collective well-being. There is no doubt that all citizens of Nigeria are constitutionally entitled to settle, live and move freely anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria without any fear of rejection or discrimination. However, the rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty are not absolute. Section 45 of the Constitution provides that there could be a legal instrument providing for the derogation to these rights in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons.
  

To end terrorism and anarchy is not to be a party to the old status quo that created the problem. The Southern governors are on course and their policy should be supported by all, including genuine herders, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and status. All Nigerians are at liberty to live and do their private businesses in the South but within the rules on ranching as drawn by the host communities to keep everyone safe and secured. It is the turn of herders to understand that open grazing is bad for agricultural settlements – they don’t mix without conflicts. Modern ranching is the sustainable global best practice for all to embrace and live in peace.