The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami has slammed the southern state governors for the ban on open grazing saying it is as good as their northern counterparts coming together to ban spare parts trading in their states.
Recall that 17 southern governors met in Asaba, Delta State on May 11 and in a resolution popularly referred to as The Asaba Accord’ banned open grazing and movement of cattle by foot across the southern states as some kidnapping and bloodbath in the region have been linked to criminal herders.
However, Malami described the open grazing ban as illegal.
“It is about constitutionality. Within the context of the freedoms enshrined in our constitution, can you deny a right of a Nigerian? It is as good as saying may be the Northern governors coming together to say that they prohibit spare parts trading in the North. Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a Northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the North?
“If you are talking of a constitutionally guaranteed right, the better approach to it is perhaps to go back and ensure that the constitution is amended. The freedom and liberty of movement, amongst others is established by the constitution.
“If by an inch, you want to have any compromise, the better approach is to go back to the national assembly for open grazing to be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment in that respect but it is a very dangerous position for any governor in Nigeria to think that he can bring about any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around,” he said.
