Open Grazing: Spare Parts Dealers Pay Taxes But Herders Don’t, Ozekhome SAN Hits AGF, Malami

Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, says the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, SAN, is wrong to compare open grazing ban in
Southern Nigeria with the prohibition of spare parts trading in the
Northern part of the country.

According to Ozekhome, spare parts traders are civil, organised
and responsible members of the public who pay taxes but herders do
not remit any amount to the government.

The lawyer made this known in this in a statement titled,
‘Freedom Of Movement Is For Human Beings, Not Cattle And Sheep’,
adding that open grazing ban by Southern governors was
constitutional.

Recall that Malami lambasted the Southern governors over their
recent ban of open grazing in the region. About 17 southern
governors had met last week in Asaba, the Delta State capital, and
resolved to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the
region as some kidnappings and killings in the southern region have
been traced to criminal elements amongst herders.

But according to the AGF, open grazing ban is the same thing as
Northern governors banning spare parts trading in their own region
considering the fact that Southerners comprise a majority of spare
parts traders in the North.

Reacting, Ozekhome said, “The Northern elites, including the Hon
Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, miss the
point sorely when they compare Igbo peaceful spare-parts dealers
who go about their normal spare parts business legitimately,
(building or renting their shops), with savage, maniacal
AK-47-wielding herdsmen.

“Igbo traders do not kill or attack Northerners with their stock
of motor-tyres, rims, spanners or chasis. They do not pour petrol
from fuel tanks that they sell, on Fulani herdsmen. They do not use
car bumpers or wind shields to smash the heads of herdsmen.”

“How does open and street grazing of cows by fully armed
foot-patrolling youth which is now clearly anachronistic, ,
primitive and antiquated, be likened to legitimate spare parts
business being carried out in shops or designated areas, with the
Igbo traders paying tenement rate, taxes, water electricity and
light bills? Have you ever heard of any herder paying tax?

“How do you equate spare parts dealers with mindless violence
unleashed on poor helpless and hapless farmers in their own farms,
and destruction of their crops with reckless abandon by these
rampaging nomadic pastoralists who are on a mission of conquest and
expansionism?” he queried.

Continuing, Ozekhome said, “Freedom of movement is only for
human beings. It is not for cattle, sheep and goats. Will the
Northerners tolerate the open sale of alcoholic beverages in their
states, even though it is the constitutional right of other ethnic
groups to move about and sell beverages of their choice.

“Are these Northern elites seriously arguing that Southern State
Governors cannot ban open grazing in their states, to protect their
innocent citizens from deadly killer herdsmen?”

The senior advocate urged the 17 Southern Governors to
“immediately sue the Federal Government, invoking the original
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under section 232 of the 1999
Constitution”, adding that “they should ask for a determination of
their right to preserve their States from insecurity”.

He also encouraged the State Assemblies in the region to quickly
back open grazing ban through instrument of law.

Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, says the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, SAN, is wrong to compare open grazing ban in
Southern Nigeria with the prohibition of spare parts trading in the
Northern part of the country.

According to Ozekhome, spare parts traders are civil, organised
and responsible members of the public who pay taxes but herders do
not remit any amount to the government.

The lawyer made this known in this in a statement titled,
‘Freedom Of Movement Is For Human Beings, Not Cattle And Sheep’,
adding that open grazing ban by Southern governors was
constitutional.

Recall that Malami lambasted the Southern governors over their
recent ban of open grazing in the region. About 17 southern
governors had met last week in Asaba, the Delta State capital, and
resolved to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the
region as some kidnappings and killings in the southern region have
been traced to criminal elements amongst herders.

But according to the AGF, open grazing ban is the same thing as
Northern governors banning spare parts trading in their own region
considering the fact that Southerners comprise a majority of spare
parts traders in the North.

Reacting, Ozekhome said, “The Northern elites, including the Hon
Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, miss the
point sorely when they compare Igbo peaceful spare-parts dealers
who go about their normal spare parts business legitimately,
(building or renting their shops), with savage, maniacal
AK-47-wielding herdsmen.

“Igbo traders do not kill or attack Northerners with their stock
of motor-tyres, rims, spanners or chasis. They do not pour petrol
from fuel tanks that they sell, on Fulani herdsmen. They do not use
car bumpers or wind shields to smash the heads of herdsmen.”

“How does open and street grazing of cows by fully armed
foot-patrolling youth which is now clearly anachronistic, ,
primitive and antiquated, be likened to legitimate spare parts
business being carried out in shops or designated areas, with the
Igbo traders paying tenement rate, taxes, water electricity and
light bills? Have you ever heard of any herder paying tax?

“How do you equate spare parts dealers with mindless violence
unleashed on poor helpless and hapless farmers in their own farms,
and destruction of their crops with reckless abandon by these
rampaging nomadic pastoralists who are on a mission of conquest and
expansionism?” he queried.

Continuing, Ozekhome said, “Freedom of movement is only for
human beings. It is not for cattle, sheep and goats. Will the
Northerners tolerate the open sale of alcoholic beverages in their
states, even though it is the constitutional right of other ethnic
groups to move about and sell beverages of their choice.

“Are these Northern elites seriously arguing that Southern State
Governors cannot ban open grazing in their states, to protect their
innocent citizens from deadly killer herdsmen?”

The senior advocate urged the 17 Southern Governors to
“immediately sue the Federal Government, invoking the original
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under section 232 of the 1999
Constitution”, adding that “they should ask for a determination of
their right to preserve their States from insecurity”.

He also encouraged the State Assemblies in the region to quickly
back open grazing ban through instrument of law.