Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has slammed Southern governors for banning open grazing in the region.
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.
Malami spoke while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by The PUNCH.
Last Tuesday, southern governors resolved to ban open grazing and the movement of cattle by foot, after a meeting in Asaba, Delta state as some kidnappings and killings in the Southern region have been traced to criminal elements amongst herders.
Read Also: Insecurity: Southern Governors Ban Open Grazing, Ask Buhari To Address Nation
The governors called for the restructuring of the country along fiscal federalism, devolution of powers and state policing.
They also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation and convoke a national dialogue to address widespread agitations amongst various groups in the region.
The resolutions of the southern governors also known as Asaba Accord have however, been greeted with mixed reactions from different parts of the country, with many Northern critics including Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; and Senators Ali Ndume from Borno South Senatorial District, amongst others.
Speaking on the development on Wednesday in an interview on Channels Television, Malami faulted the decision of the southern governors, saying it does not align with the provisions of the constitution.
The attorney-general said the decision “does not hold water” in the context of human rights as enshrined in the constitution.
He queried;
It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?.
For example: it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say 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?
Malami asked the southern governors to facilitate the amendment of the 1999 constitution (as amended) to prohibit open grazing.
Continuing, he said;
If you are talking of constitutionally guaranteed rights, the better approach to it is to perhaps go back to ensure the constitution is amended. Freedom and liberty of movement among others established by the constitution, if by an inch you want to have any compromise over it, the better approach is go back to the national assembly to say open grazing should be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment.
It is a dangerous provision for any governor in Nigeria to think he can bring any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.
Watch a video of him speaking below;
On the issue of banning grazing, the AGF asks if you deny the rights of a Nigerian citing the example of Northern governors coming together to ban the trade of spare parts in the north. Does it hold water? #PoliticsToday pic.twitter.com/VRzAMH4mt6
— Channels Television (@channelstv) May 19, 2021
