Asaba Declaration: We Owe No Apologies on Open Grazing, Restructuring, Says Gov Okowa
- The resolutions of the Southern Governors Forum in Asaba is still a trending topic in the Nigerian political space
- The host of the meeting and governor of Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, says the resolutions from the gathering are in the best interest of Nigeria
- Governor Okowa noted that Nigeria's growing food insecurity can be linked to the continued open grazing of cattle in the country
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Asaba - Delta state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has berated critics of southern governors on the ban of opening grazing of cattle and the call for national dialogue to restructure Nigeria.
Governor Okowa expressed surprise that some elements in the presidency are still advocating for the retention of open grazing of cattle.
The governor acknowledged that the process might not be a one-day affair but warned that Nigeria's growing food insecurity may soon spiral to a tipping point on account of the threat posed by the open grazing of cattle.
Source: Twitter
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A statement sent to Legit.ng by the Delta state government on Tuesday, June 1 quoted Governor Okowa as saying:
“We owe no apologies because we spoke the truth and we thought that the truth we spoke was in the best interest of this nation.
“Can we truly at this moment be promoting open grazing? Thank God that the president was misrepresented, because I have seen news headlines that the president is not opposed to the ban on open grazing.
“We need to begin to look into what is best for us. Where we were 50 years ago should not be where we should be today and tomorrow.”
Okowa also called for wholesale adoption of ranching given that, apart from safety issues, it is more beneficial for both cattle owners and herders.
Governor Okowa had on Saturday, May 15 said resolutions reached at the Southern Governors Forum's meeting held in Asaba recently were for the good of the nation.
Okowa stated this while speaking at the empowerment of constituents of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency by their representative and minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu.
In a related development, Governor Okowa had on Wednesday, May 26 said Nigeria needed a new constitution, and not an amendment to accommodate emerging issues of good governance and greater interest of Nigerians.
Okowa stated this when he received on a courtesy visit, the Senate sub-committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution led by Senator James Manager at Government House, Asaba.
He said that a new constitution for the country had become imperative in view of observed lacunas in the 1999 constitution.
Source: Legit.ng
