Press Release On The Alleged National Grazing Reserves Bill

On April 6, 2016, IGBOEKULIE received information about THE NATIONAL GRAZING RESERVES COMMISSION BILL said to be pending before the National Assembly. We immediately made efforts to confirm this in the following ways:-

1. We tried to secure a copy of the bill and eventually found a bill sponsored by Senator Zainab Kure of Niger State in 2008 and another version of the same bill by her in 2011. In the House of Reps, we found a copy of similar bill sponsored in 2016 by Hon. Karim S. Sunday of Kogi State.

2. We contacted some members of the National Assembly. While a number of the members of House of Representatives confirmed it, but seemed helpless in openly opposing the bill, the Senators contacted either ignored the ceaseless enquiries or played hide and seek game on the matter. Infact, an influential Senator who initially seemed eager to discuss it but promised to call later, failed to do so despite many reminders.

3. We made contacts with some members of the press who confirmed they were aware of the bill.
Realising the dire consequences on the nation if the bill was allowed to become law, IGBOEKULIE went to the press. The first publication was in the Sunday Telegraph of April 10, 2016 to warn the nation about the continuing atrocities AK47 wielding Fulani herdsmen were committing nationwide with no rebuke or arrests by the FGN/the Police and the attempt by the National Assembly to pass a bill to seize peoples' land for the benefit of the aggressors.

Other newspapers subsequently reported the alarm from IGBOEKULIE. Afterwards,  other groups and concerned Nigerians, including prominent columnists joined the bandwagon. We are very pleased that we have woken up our national consciousness on the dangers of this bill.

The Presidency has now been forced to make a statement on the issue. Yesterday, two Senators openly admitted the existence of the Senator Kure bill but stated that it expired with the 7th Assembly. They were finally compelled to talk because Nigerians heeded our call on them to mount requisite pressure on their Senators and Reps. We are pleased that Senator Eyinnnaya Abaribe of Abia confirmed that he has received over 1,000 telephone calls on this.

We need to warn Nigerians that even if we believe the claim that the bill is currently not before the Senate, it does not imply that it cannot be resurrected tomorrow. Also, though we are yet to hear from the House of Representatives, it is clear that they have a right to pass the bill and seek a concurrence of the Senate to make it a law. So the battle is not quite won yet. It is clear that the rich and powerful members of the Miyyati Allah Cattle Breeders Association who have since declared their support for the bill are not likely to give up easily.

As an organisation, we are proud of the role we have so far played in this matter. We however advise that we remain focused and committed to preventing this bill from becoming law in the interest of peace, equity and progress. That is the message Nigerians have sent clearly and unequivocally to the National Assembly.

Equity only aids the eternally vigilant!

Thank you Nigerians.

IGBOEKULIE.