Southern Govs Should Legalise Open Grazing Ban To Prosecute Offenders — Falana SAN

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged southern
governors in the country to back their ban on open grazing with a
legal instrument to enable the prosecution of offenders.

Falana spoke on Wednesday evening while featuring on Channels
Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.

Speaking on the television programme on Wednesday, Falana said
the ban on open grazing, night grazing, underage grazing was
important in securing lives and properties in the country, adding
that the ban was also in the interest of the herders.

The senior advocate said, “I have read the resolutions and for
me, the governors have done very well. They need to mobilise their
northern colleagues, they need to walk their talk because if you
expect that the presidency will act on this resolution, the
governors may be wasting their precious time.”

“Each of the governors will have to make enabling laws to
translate the decision in the communiqué to legal instruments,” he
said, adding that governors would have to ensure state attorney
generals come together and put in machineries for translating the
resolutions into laws.

Falana also lauded the southern governors for demanding the
restructuring of the country along fiscal federalism.

“For the entire country, these resolutions will be very useful;
they have come at the right time, not too late, the governors have
now formally joined the campaign for restructuring,” the human
rights lawyer said.

Recall that about 17 southern governors met on Tuesday in Asaba,
Delta State, and resolved to ban open grazing and movement of
cattle by foot in the region. The governors also called on the
President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to address the
nation and convoke a national dialogue to address widespread
agitations amongst various groups in the region.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged southern
governors in the country to back their ban on open grazing with a
legal instrument to enable the prosecution of offenders.

Falana spoke on Wednesday evening while featuring on Channels
Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.

Speaking on the television programme on Wednesday, Falana said
the ban on open grazing, night grazing, underage grazing was
important in securing lives and properties in the country, adding
that the ban was also in the interest of the herders.

The senior advocate said, “I have read the resolutions and for
me, the governors have done very well. They need to mobilise their
northern colleagues, they need to walk their talk because if you
expect that the presidency will act on this resolution, the
governors may be wasting their precious time.”

“Each of the governors will have to make enabling laws to
translate the decision in the communiqué to legal instruments,” he
said, adding that governors would have to ensure state attorney
generals come together and put in machineries for translating the
resolutions into laws.

Falana also lauded the southern governors for demanding the
restructuring of the country along fiscal federalism.

“For the entire country, these resolutions will be very useful;
they have come at the right time, not too late, the governors have
now formally joined the campaign for restructuring,” the human
rights lawyer said.

Recall that about 17 southern governors met on Tuesday in Asaba,
Delta State, and resolved to ban open grazing and movement of
cattle by foot in the region. The governors also called on the
President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to address the
nation and convoke a national dialogue to address widespread
agitations amongst various groups in the region.