Uzodinma Breaks From Southern Governors On Anti-Open Grazing

*Opts For Partnership Between Farmers, Herders
*Says IPOB Stay-At-Home Order Ineffective

With just six days to the September 1, 2021 target set by the 17
southern governors for states in the region to enact anti-open
grazing legislation, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has become
the first governor from the region to go against the agreement
reached with his colleagues.

The governor yesterday declared that there is no law forbidding
open grazing by cattle rearers in the state.

Uzodinma, who spoke with newsmen yesterday after meeting with
President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, argued that
though there is presently no anti-grazing law in the state, his
government was trying to regulate grazing activities through
collaboration between the farmers and herders.

The 17 governors of the southern states had in a meeting held in
Lagos on July 5, 2021, urged states in the region to ensure that
the legislation against open grazing of cattle was put in place on
or before September 1.

Following the governors’ resolution, Delta, Osun, Ondo, Bayelsa,
Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Enugu state governments had moved to enact
anti-open grazing laws. But before the resolution of the governors,
the anti-open grazing law was already operational in Ogun, Abia,
Oyo, Ekiti, and Ebonyi states.

But in sharp contrast with the agreement reached by the southern
governors, Uzodimma said: “I don’t have any law in Imo State for
anti-grazing. But what we have done is that we are regulating
grazing activities in Imo State under a partnership between our
farmers and herders. They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) in my office and agreed to work together. And both parties
are going about their businesses without interfering or causing any
grievance or anger to each other.”

He also said the recent sit-at-home order given by the
Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB) was not carried out in the
state, saying people went about their normal businesses.

He further disclosed that the Igbo people are now ready to play
national politics by belonging to the party at the centre, saying
this would play out with the forthcoming gubernatorial election in
Anambra State.

Commenting on the sit-at-home order, he said: “To the extent of
what I know on the sit-at-home order, even the people on their own
called off the sit-at-home order. In Imo State, it is not being
observed. People are doing their businesses.

“Most people in Imo are businessmen and women who depend on
their daily activities and income to feed their families. So, they
cannot afford to sit at home idle and allow hunger to ravage the
state.”

Uzodinma stressed that there is only one government in the state
headed by him and that at no time did he ask people not to go about
their businesses.

According to him: “I know in Imo State, there is only one
Governor and only the governor can order, working with other
members of the government, that people should sit at home and it
will be obeyed. I don’t want to sit here and recognise that there
is any order outside the government of Imo State because there is a
government.

“IPOB is not a government in Imo State. Imo State government has
not authorised anything at all. Workers are going to work and
normal business activities are ongoing. And for now, I told you
that Imo State is relatively calm.”

Speaking as Chairman of the APC campaign Committee for the
November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election, Uzodinma stated that the
Igbos would the election to confirm their readiness to play
national politics and be part of the government at the center.

He said: “You know our President. You know him (Mr. President),
he will only encourage you. He doesn’t interfere. We are in charge
of the campaign. I’m the Chairman of the Council. And the good news
is that the political leadership in Igbo land has resolved to be
part of the federal government, to participate at the national
level, to leave the provincial championship to national
championship.

“So, what we have decided to do is to ensure that we embrace the
ruling party, the APC. And we are taking the message to Anambra.
And by the grace of God, Anambra people will buy the message and
Igbo land will be recovered”.

The governor also disclosed that the President has intervened in
some ecological problems facing the state as three contracts for
the control of erosion would soon be awarded.

*Opts For Partnership Between Farmers, Herders
*Says IPOB Stay-At-Home Order Ineffective

With just six days to the September 1, 2021 target set by the 17
southern governors for states in the region to enact anti-open
grazing legislation, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has become
the first governor from the region to go against the agreement
reached with his colleagues.

The governor yesterday declared that there is no law forbidding
open grazing by cattle rearers in the state.

Uzodinma, who spoke with newsmen yesterday after meeting with
President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, argued that
though there is presently no anti-grazing law in the state, his
government was trying to regulate grazing activities through
collaboration between the farmers and herders.

The 17 governors of the southern states had in a meeting held in
Lagos on July 5, 2021, urged states in the region to ensure that
the legislation against open grazing of cattle was put in place on
or before September 1.

Following the governors’ resolution, Delta, Osun, Ondo, Bayelsa,
Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Enugu state governments had moved to enact
anti-open grazing laws. But before the resolution of the governors,
the anti-open grazing law was already operational in Ogun, Abia,
Oyo, Ekiti, and Ebonyi states.

But in sharp contrast with the agreement reached by the southern
governors, Uzodimma said: “I don’t have any law in Imo State for
anti-grazing. But what we have done is that we are regulating
grazing activities in Imo State under a partnership between our
farmers and herders. They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) in my office and agreed to work together. And both parties
are going about their businesses without interfering or causing any
grievance or anger to each other.”

He also said the recent sit-at-home order given by the
Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB) was not carried out in the
state, saying people went about their normal businesses.

He further disclosed that the Igbo people are now ready to play
national politics by belonging to the party at the centre, saying
this would play out with the forthcoming gubernatorial election in
Anambra State.

Commenting on the sit-at-home order, he said: “To the extent of
what I know on the sit-at-home order, even the people on their own
called off the sit-at-home order. In Imo State, it is not being
observed. People are doing their businesses.

“Most people in Imo are businessmen and women who depend on
their daily activities and income to feed their families. So, they
cannot afford to sit at home idle and allow hunger to ravage the
state.”

Uzodinma stressed that there is only one government in the state
headed by him and that at no time did he ask people not to go about
their businesses.

According to him: “I know in Imo State, there is only one
Governor and only the governor can order, working with other
members of the government, that people should sit at home and it
will be obeyed. I don’t want to sit here and recognise that there
is any order outside the government of Imo State because there is a
government.

“IPOB is not a government in Imo State. Imo State government has
not authorised anything at all. Workers are going to work and
normal business activities are ongoing. And for now, I told you
that Imo State is relatively calm.”

Speaking as Chairman of the APC campaign Committee for the
November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election, Uzodinma stated that the
Igbos would the election to confirm their readiness to play
national politics and be part of the government at the center.

He said: “You know our President. You know him (Mr. President),
he will only encourage you. He doesn’t interfere. We are in charge
of the campaign. I’m the Chairman of the Council. And the good news
is that the political leadership in Igbo land has resolved to be
part of the federal government, to participate at the national
level, to leave the provincial championship to national
championship.

“So, what we have decided to do is to ensure that we embrace the
ruling party, the APC. And we are taking the message to Anambra.
And by the grace of God, Anambra people will buy the message and
Igbo land will be recovered”.

The governor also disclosed that the President has intervened in
some ecological problems facing the state as three contracts for
the control of erosion would soon be awarded.