Masari Backs Southern Governors, Says Open Grazing Is Un-Islamic
- Governor Bello Masari has reacted to the controversy trailing open grazing
- The southern governors had recently banned open grazing in their region
- The presidency, however, berated the governors on their position
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Despite the reservation by the presidency, the governor of Katsina state, Aminu Masari, has thrown his weight behind southern governors on the ban of open grazing.
The Nation reports that Masari described the practice which, according to him, encourages herders to move from one location to another as ‘’un-Islamic.’’
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Legit.ng gathered that Masari, who spoke at the Government House Katsina as part of activities to mark the second year of his second term in office, argued that necessary infrastructure on livestock farming should be provided in the states for ranching as against open grazing.
He said:
‘’The herders’ movement is essentially in search of two things: water and fodder. If we can provide these two items why should they move? This roaming about I don’t think. For us, it's un-Islamic and is not the best. It is part of the problem we are having today. I don’t support that we should continue with the way open grazing is.’’
Speaking on devolution of power through restructuring, he said the states urgently need resources to implement what should have been implemented at the federal level.
He said he would support devolution totally, adding that the states need to have resources to implement what should have been implemented by the federal government.
Masari noted:
‘’If today the states will support the police, the Police system will go up. If the states withdraw their support to security agencies, they won’t be able to move from here to there.
‘’So, I absolutely support devolution in totality. So, as a government of Katsina, we should be allowed by the constitution, within the Constitution to decide on many things that are peculiar to us.’’
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the mouthpiece of northern Nigeria, expressed support for the call of the southern governors to ban open grazing of cattle.
It was reported that the ACF chairman and immediate past minister of agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, made this known in a statement on Monday, May 17.
The former minister, however, said there is the need to advise the governors in all states not to think that merely banning open grazing would end the crisis, stressing that the bulk of the violent herders are the ones marching in from neighbouring African countries in large numbers.
Source: Legit.ng
