IGBOEKULIE Kicks Against National Grazing Reserve Bill

IGBOEKULIE, a frontline Pan-Igbo association, has lent its voice to the opposition against passing the controversial National Grazing Reserve Bill into law, stating that passage of the bill portends great danger in the society.

In a statement by the President of the association, Prince Ben Onuora, the association was worried over plethora of atrocities perpetrated against humanity in various localities credited to the itinerant Fulani herdsmen in the guise of grazing and therefore urged the lawmakers to throw out the bill without delay. 

"The bill in the National Assembly for the creation of National Grazing Reserve across Nigeria which enables Federal Government on behalf of the herdsmen to compulsorily acquire land at will for rearing cattle is capable of worsening incessant bloody clashes between the host communities and the herdsmen.

"If this bill is allowed to become law, it is bound to escalate the unending fatal clashes between these herdsmen and the Indigenous farmers in the entire South and Middle Belt!

"The use of cattle in destroying crops and farmlands is obviously condemnable and analogous to robbing Peter to pay Paul as Fulani herdsmen should emulate people from other geographical zones that invest capital in their businesses by leasing farmlands, buying properties, renting shops and offices etc. Fulani herdsmen who are quite rich should learn to invest in their businesses by developing ranches in the Fulani dominated states where land is abundant with the support of their Governors.

"Besides, the method of rearing cattle adopted by the gr’oup is inconsistent with developments of the 21st century, putting into consideration the health-hazard involved in the system. The risk is enormous and unnecessary, to trek thousands of kilometers with herds of cattle, and deliberately or not, destroy the crops and farmlands of farmers in the areas", the statement said.

The association also frowned that the land which the bill intends to make available the federal government for the herdsmen is in the first place unavailable.

On the endless attacks with impunity, the association called on the federal government and security agencies that have the statutory duty to secure lives and properties to ensure that lethal weapons in possession of these herdsmen are taken from them while those that have taken laws into their hands are brought to book to serve as deterrence to others.

It will be recalled that hundreds of persons had so far gone to early grave following the excesses of these herdsmen who are usually armed and quick to launch deadly attacks upon little disagreements against their opponents in the course of rearing cattle.

The association therefore called on all well-meaning Nigerians particularly the lawmakers to stand against the bill for a continued peaceful coexistence of all parts of the country as the bill constitutes a threat to national unity.