It was gathered that the meeting, which would hold eight weeks after the governors met in Asaba, the Delta State capital, would further assess decisions taken in Asaba on the open grazing ban, restructuring, fiscal federalism and the call for state police.

The governors would be hosted by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the meeting which would start by 10am today (Monday).

Aside from the host governor, others expected at the meeting are Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Diri Duoye (Bayelsa), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Oluwaseyi Makinde (Oyo), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).

Recall that the governors in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting in Asaba, banned open grazing as part of moves to address killings and kidnapping by herdsmen.

But a few days after the meeting,  the Presidency faulted the ban on open grazing. The Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, had, in a statement, said, “It is equally true that their (governors’) announcement is of questionable legality, given the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT), regardless of the state of their birth or residence.”

Also, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, slammed the southern governors for banning open grazing.

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.

The President, during a recorded television interview in June, also backed Malami’s position, adding that he had directed that grazing routes be recovered.

When asked if he agreed with the AGF’s position, Buhari had responded, “You want me to contradict my attorney-general?”

Explaining further, he said, “What I did was to ask him to go and dig the gazette of the  First Republic when people were obeying laws. There were cattle routes and grazing areas. Cattle routes were for when they (herdsmen) are moving up country, north to south or east to west, they had to go through there.

“If you allow your cattle to stray into any farm, you are arrested. The farmer is invited to submit his claims. The khadi or the judge will say pay this amount and if you can’t the cattle is sold. And if there is any benefit, you are given and people were behaving themselves and in the grazing areas, they built dams, put windmills in some places there were even veterinary departments so that the herders are limited. Their route is known, their grazing area is known.

“But I am telling you, this rushing to the centre (sic) so I asked for the gazette to make sure that those who encroached on these cattle routes and grazing areas will be dispossessed in law and try to bring some order back into the cattle grazing.”

Speaking to The PUNCH on Sunday, a top source close to one of the governors said the southern governors were disturbed about Buhari’s order on grazing routes, adding that they suspected a hidden agenda.

The source also stated,  “The governors will meet physically tomorrow (Monday) in Alausa, Lagos. All the 17 governors in Southern Nigeria will be present at the meeting. They will speak on some of the issues they raised in Asaba.”

Asked of the issues that would top agenda at the meeting, another source close to one the governors in the South-West, South-South and South-East said the governors would deliberate on the pronouncement of the President.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said, “They would discuss the issue of security and open grazing ban. They are going to focus on topical political issues. The governors will be deliberating on the recent order by the President that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, recover some lands for herdsmen to graze in the country. They believe it is an agenda to Fulanise the country.”

Also, one of the information managers to one of the governors in the region, said, “The meeting will address killings in spite of the ban on  open grazing. Aside from open grazing, restructuring, autonomy for judiciary will also be discussed.

“The attorney general of the federation is not an attorney general of the Federal Government. He is an attorney general of the federation behaving like the attorney general of the Federal Government. So, any case involving anybody with the Federal Government is a lost case because you have an attorney general of the federation behaving like the attorney general of the Federal Government.

“When the southern governors banned open grazing, the AGF declared the act as illegal. They didn’t react when he said that. That is how mature people behave. But tomorrow (Monday), the governors will take a position on the Federal Government’s reaction,” the source said.

Asked whether the governors would also discuss the raid by the Department of State Services on the Ibadan house of Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, the source stated, “Igboho is not nationalistic. The agenda of the Southern governors is broader than Igboho but you can’t rule it out that when they are talking of regional security, they would talk about him.

“They spoke about him when Igboho spoke against herders-farmers crisis but they stopped talking about him the moment some people entered into his head and he started Yoruba nation rally. It is not a right time at all.”

Source: The Punch

This is according to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, alongside the President’s Chief Of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

Addressing state house correspondents after the meeting, Senator Ngige said the President has also enabled series of dialogues to be held with leaders in the region.

He added that discussions at the meeting equally encapsulated what the south-east is demanding from the Federal Government as well as what the government plans to do for the region to assuage the feelings of the people.

He further disclosed that complaints from the national labour union regarding a breach of agreement had reached the President and they have begun plans to halt any further friction in the midst of the fragile situation within Kaduna State.

They distanced themselves from the agitations of such groups and frowned on the violence that ensued which led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

In a bid to tackle the security challenges and restore peace in the region, the governors went beyond their political differences and met on Saturday in Enugu State.

“We condemn in totality, the activities of violent secessionist groups in the South East and elsewhere; we firmly proclaim that we do not support them, they do not speak for South East,” said the Chairman of the Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, at the end of the meeting.

Source: Channels tv

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of the group,  reacting to the position of the Northern Governors’ Forum, as stated by its chairman and Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, said there was nothing wrong with the call by southern governors who met in Asaba, Delta State, to ban open grazing, while also demanding for restructuring of the country.

Reacting to the positions of the southern governors, their northern counterparts expressed disappointment over resolutions of the meeting, saying the ban on open grazing had been resolved at the meeting of NGF and passed to the presidency. Speaking on “Radio Now 95.3 FM Lagos,” Lalong said most of the issues raised by the southern governors, especially the banning of open grazing had been discussed.

“Many of the issues raised are not new to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum because we had raised the issues before, particularly the issue of open grazing. Northern governors met on this issue and raised a communique. That communique led us to convene Governors’ Forum meeting. It was adopted and we took the resolutions to the president that we are against the current system of open grazing,” he said.

He added that in view of the growing urbanisation and population of the country, all the governors agreed to sensitise herdsmen on the need to adopt new method of herding which was ranching or other acceptable methods.

He queried: “As I am talking to you, many of the states have put up the process of establishing ranching law. Plateau State has sent a bill to the state assembly on ranching, Kaduna is already doing that, Nasarawa is preparing to do that. So at what stage did we say we are encouraging open grazing?”

The Plateau State governor said if the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) has been well accepted and put on ground by now, the country would not be talking of farmers/herders clashes. “To me, there’s no need for southern governors to begin to bring it up as an issue again because all of us have adopted the banning of open grazing. After the northern governors’ meeting, we presented it to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and tabled it before the president. It is not a new thing,” he stated.

He said the position of the southern governors had not helped the collective decision, adding that it was out of place to take the same issue to the region for discussion.

On restructuring, Lalong said the northern governors had set up a committee on it, headed by the governor of Sokoto State with Plateau State deputy governor as the secretary. He also said herdsmen are the major reason for insecurity in the country, as he cited the militancy in the South-South and call for secession by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Carpeting his stand, Adebanjo, speaking on telephone with the Nigerian Tribune, said the 17 southern governors did nothing contrary and never escalated any issue. He said, they rather emphasised the urgency of the matters, as no action had been taken by the presidency to which, according to Governor Lalong, earlier resolution of the NGF had been submitted.

“That is their decision, there is nothing wrong about it. If it is true that all the governors had decided on the issues, what is wrong with that? They have not done anything contrary to what they had decided upon earlier, rather, what they are doing is emphasising on those matters because of the urgency,” Chief Adebanjo said.

“After they had taken the decision on the issue at the NGF level, has government acted on it? Once there has not been any action on it, the governors have the right to repeat it,” he further stated.

Updated May 17, 2021

There were strong indications on Sunday that Southern governors would meet with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), after his return from France.

A source in the Southern Governors’ Forum told one of our correspondents that arrangements were being made for  the governors to present their resolutions at their meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, to the President.

Recall that governors in the 17 states of Southern Nigeria had on Tuesday held a four-hour meeting in Asaba, Delta State.

As part of their 12-point resolution, the governors led by the governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had said, “We observe that the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the southern part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not able to live their normal lives, including pursuing various productive activities, leading to a threat to food supply and general security.

“Consequently, the meeting resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria.”

A top government official in Delta State, who confided in one of  our correspondents, said, “The forum would definitely meet with the President, but the time the meeting will hold has not been revealed by them. But it is sure that the meeting with the President will hold.”

When contacted the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo, said the Chairman of the SGF and Ondo State Governor Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, had stated that the forum would meet with the President.

Ojogo said, “He (Akeredolu)  has stated this already that the forum will meet the President and present the issues raised.”

Buhari on Sunday began a four-day official visit to France, where he would attend African Finance Summit.

According to the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the summit will focus on reviewing African economy, following shocks from COVID-19 pandemic, and getting relief, especially from increased debt burden on countries.

Also on Sunday, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria  demanded establishment of two or three models of ranches as part of measures to put an end to open grazing.

The General Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Ngerzema, who said this in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, begged Southern governors over their ban on open grazing.

He urged the Federal Government to assist state governments in establishing model ranches.

Ngerzema said the governors should consider the plights of pastoralists that would be affected by their declaration, saying some of them were born and brought up in those Southern states.

He said, “For the interest of peace and unity of the country, the Southern governors should consider the plights of the pastoralists as bonafide citizens while agitating for the anti-open grazing policy because some of these herders are born and brought up in those states.

“In order not overheat the already fragile security situation of the country, let them all temper justice with mercy.

“We call on state governments to unify purposes in their desire for peace.”

He said MACBAN was never opposed to settlement of pastoralists throughout the country but that there must be a model of settlement for the pastoralists to see and emulate.

He regretted that there was no attempt by past administrations to modernise the animal husbandry practice in the country.

He added, “The pastoralists we have are those that practise the primitive system they inherited as the only option available for them.

“This system is no longer sustainable considering the growing population that poses too much demand on the land that doesn’t increase at all.

“The pastoralists are also bonafide citizens whose rights and privileges deserve protection.

“The Federal Government must also come up with a policy to address the issue for the unity of the country. Each state government in the North should be assisted by the Federal Government to establish  two or three models of modern settlements( ranch ).”

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Groups, in a statement on Sunday said the Southern governors unfairly profiled the entire business community of herders as the sole cause of the bulk of the security challenges in the region in their resolution.

It accused the governors of deliberately leaving out the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network among others in identifying causes of security challenges in their domains.

The CNG’s position was contained in a statement by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, titled ‘Response to the Asaba Declaration by Southern Nigerian governors.’

It added that the southern governors neglected to acknowledge that just as development and population growth had put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations, so also had the mass movement of millions of people from the South into the vast interior of the North and the permanent nature of this movement.

It also accused the southern governors of failing to attribute the current national woes to the regime of the All Progressives Congress led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The statement read, “Against the backdrop of these observations, on grazing ban, the CNG emphatically repudiates the vilification and targeting of the entire pastoral community for vilification, systematic dehumanisation, profiling, alienation or any action that will render them object of attack and persecution.

“The CNG categorically calls on all pastoralists and by extension, all northerners living as minorities in the South, whose lives and livelihoods stand threatened by this regime of hostile and damaging policies to be ratified by the southern governors, to immediately relocate with their livestock assets to the North.

“We demand  absolute guarantee of protecting the lives and property of the pastoral communities as they relocate to the North, by ensuring their movement is not impeded by any legislation or obstacle imposed by a state or a community in the South.

“We demand the federal and northern states governments to immediately identify suitable lands across the region and create grazing reserves and cattle routes through resort to extant provisions of the Land Use Act and other related laws.”

In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike said that he would implement the ban on open grazing.

The governor said he could not be cowed by anybody, saying there was no going back on the decision to ban open grazing in Rivers state.

Wike stated this at a grand reception in his honour by the people of the Ogoni ethnic nationality in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

In a statement on Sunday in Delta State, southern Speakers in a communique after their meeting, commended the governors for coming together to speak with one voice, saying the resolutions of the governors were pathways to resolving the problems facing the country.

The Speakers, said, “We the speakers of state legislatures in Southern Nigeria commend the governors of the southern states for their patriotism and firm belief in the unity of the country.

“We salute the governors for their initiative and restate our support for the positions of the governors. We wish to state  unequivocally that the issues canvassed in the communique are neither new nor strange, rather they require swift response from the Federal Government.”

The comminuque was signed by the Deputy National Chairman,  Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori and four others.

Also, the Akwa Ibom State Government said it would stand by the position already taken by the Southern governors on opening grazing.

The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Uyo, said,  “It is not our business whether they are begging or not. Our position is to stand by the Southern Governors Forum which banned opening grazing. That is what we stand by. The duty of government is to be fair and equitable to all. Will the state government provide business models for all businesses?”

The Enugu State Government said it had not received any request from  Miyetti Allah.

The state Commissioner for Information, Chidi Aroh who disclosed this to one of our correspondents, however, said Miyetti Allah should direct its plea to the southern governors.

He said the state government stood by the position of the southern governors.

Also on Sunday, a human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, slammed critics of Southern governors, saying that those against resolutions of the southern governors were selfish.

The activist, in a video uploaded on her Twitter handle on Saturday, said nobody had the monopoly of intolerance or self-centredness.

The governors’ resolutions also known as the Asaba Accord have been heavily criticised by northerners including Ali Ndume, who is representing the Borno South Senatorial District in the upper chamber; as well as Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

However reacting, Yesufu lambasted the detractors of the southern governors, saying, “I see some people coming out to say the southern governors do not have a right to make the decision for A, B, C, D.

“The decision that you had as northern governors with what right did you make them? The southern governors do not have a right to make laws in their own states but you have a right to make laws in your own states?

She added, “Nobody has monopoly of intolerance, nobody has monopoly of being selfish, nobody has monopoly of being self-centred; everybody has the capacity to be, that some people don’t do it does not mean anything.”

On its part, the Middle Belt Forum  dismissed concern that the ban on open grazing would lead to influx of herdsmen into the Middle Belt.

The National Publicity Secretary of the MBF, Dr Isuwa Dogo, who stated this in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Sunday, said although the group was not opposed to the ban, it (the ban) would no end insecurity.

Source: PUNCH

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has supported the call for national dialogue by southern governors to address the issue of insecurity and other challenges in the country.

Featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, he stated that those who have faulted the action of the governors misunderstood their motive of making such a move.

“What I understand from this whole meeting is that things are not well and I like the name they use – national dialogue… that is a call for peace, not for war. That should not be taken out of context,” said Okorocha who now represents Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly.

He added, “Since 1960, has there been any time the southern governors have met to say that they ban open grazing? The answer is no.

“Has there been any meeting where the southern governors have said the Fulanis or the herders are enemies? No! And I don’t think that is the intention of that meeting; if it is, then I don’t think I am part of it.”

State governors in the South met on Tuesday last week in Asaba, the Delta State capital where they resolved to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region.

They put aside their political differences and called for a national dialogue, as well as restructuring of the country along with fiscal federalism, devolution of powers, and state policing, among other demands.

A group photograph of state governors in southern Nigeria after a meeting in Asaba, Delta State on May 11, 2021.

The governors had also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation and convene a national dialogue to address the agitations by various groups in the region.

While Okorocha commended the call for a national dialogue, he was concerned about the timing of such a call.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari may not have the luxury of time to convene such a dialogue considering that he has about two years to complete his second term in office.

“Coming to other issues of this national dialogue, my only concern about their statement is the time factor; If you look at it now, President Muhammadu Buhari has spent 70 per cent of his tenure as president, he has barely two years to go.

“And if you start forming this dialogue thing, I am sure it will take you six months to compose it and to set up a secretariat and others, that will take you up to January and by then, politics would have taken a different dimension and when will Buhari have the time to complete this whole thing?” the former governor asked.

Source : Channels tv

ACNNtv
Updated May 12, 2021

Governors of the South have banned open grazing of cattle across states in the region and insisted that  the President  addresses Nigerians on the state of insecurity in the nation.

The Governors have called for the restructuring of the nation to address increasing agitations in different parts of the nation, while resounding their commitment to the oneness of the nation.

The Governors made these known at the closing part of their meeting in Asaba, the Delta State Capital, on Tuesday.

Governors who were present  were the ; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; ; Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; Ogun State governor, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Rivers State Governor, Nysome WikeDapo Abiodun; Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano and a few others.

Their  host  who was, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa received them in peace.

A few of these states and sub-regions have banned open grazing in the past.

In February, the governors representing the 36 states said it had reached a satisfying agreement on the “need for the country to transition into modern systems of animal husbandry that will replace open, night, and underage grazing in the country.”

The ban on open grazing is influenced by the fact that the violence of herdsmen has continued to be reported across the nation.

Beyond the crisis of herdsmen, the nation has continued to suffer diverse security threats, including but not limited to an insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and secessionist agitations in the South-East and South-West.

Below is the full position of the Southern Governor’s after their meeting on Tuesday:

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNORS OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ASABA, DELTA STATE, ON TUESDAY, 11TH MAY, 2021

At its meeting held today, 11th May, 2021, th e Southern Governors Forum reviewed the situation in the nation generally and focused on the current security situation, agitations/restructuring, prospect for inter-state collaboration and partnerships as well as on the incidence of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Rising from the meeting, the Forum: affirmed that the peoples of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity and oneness and peaceful co-existence between and among its peoples with a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity; observed that the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the Southern part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not able to live their normal lives including pursuing various productive activities leading to a threat to food supply and general security.

Consequently, the meeting resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria; noted that development and population growth has put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the South. Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the South by foot); recommended that the Federal Government should support WILLING States to develop alternative and modern livestock management systems; agreed that the progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of state police, review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments and creation of other institutions which legitimately advance our commitment to and practice of true federalism; recommended that in view of widespread agitations among our various peoples for greater inclusiveness in existing governance arrangements, the Federal Government should convoke a national dialogue as a matter of urgency; recommended that in deference to the sensitivities of our various peoples, there is need to review appointments into Federal Government Agencies (including Security Agencies) to reflect federal character as Nigeria’s overall population is heterogenous; resolved to foster cooperation among the Southern States and the nation at large; expressed concern on the continued gridlock on the Oshodi – Apapa Expressway and the chokehold it has exerted on the nation’s economy being the sole outlet from Apapa Wharf.

The meeting therefore recommended the activation and establishment of ports in other States of the federation to create new jobs and promote socio-economic activities in the country; the meeting expressed concern on the economic implications of another lockdown on the country, and therefore suggested greater coordination and cooperation between Federal and State Governments in evolving strategies for dealing with the pandemic; expressed very grave concern on the security challenge currently plaguing the nation and strongly urged that Mr. President should address Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity and restore the confidence of our people; and expressed gratitude to our host, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his generosity and hospitality.

Signed by:

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN
Governor, Ondo State

His Excellency
Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu
Governor, Abia State Governor

His Excellency
Chief Emmanuel Udom
Akwa Ibom State

His Excellency
Willie Obiano
Governor, Anambra State

His Excellency
Senator Diri Duoye
Governor, Bayelsa State

His Excellency
Prof. Ben Ayade
Governor, Delta State

His Excellency
Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa
Governor, Cross Rivers State

His Excellency
Engr. Dave Umahi
Governor, Ebonyi State

His Excellency
Godwin Obaseki
Governor, Edo State

His Excellency
John Olukayode Fayemi
Governor, Ekiti State

His Excellency
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Governor, Enugu State

His Excellency
Senator Hope Uzodimma
Governor, Imo State

His Excellency
Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Governor, Lagos State

His Excellency
Dapo Abiodun
Governor, Ogun State

His Excellency
Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola
Governor, Osun State

His Excellency
Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde
Oyo State Governor

His Excellency
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike Governor
Rivers State

Governors Seyi Makinde; David Umahi; Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Dapo Abiodun during arrival at the meeting.

Southern Nigerian Governors Forum (SNGF) are presently in a meeting in Asaba, Delta State capital to discuss matters of insecurity and other issues disturbing the regions and the entire country.

Those physically in attendance include Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Rivers State Governor, Nysome Wike; Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun; Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; among others.

They are hosted by, Delta State Governor, Okowa.

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s spokesperson, Gboyega Akosile, in a statement on Tuesday said the meeting is an intervention by the governors to jointly brainstorm and address burning issues in the Southern part of Nigeria.

The regional security meeting is holding less than twenty hours after Governor Sanwo-Olu hosted a very crucial stakeholders meeting on security in Lagos, to address the challenges posed to the state.

Like Lagos, the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum meeting is meant  to critically evaluate the current security situation in the country, the implications for southern Nigeria and proffer an immediate and long-term solution so as to keep the region safe and secure for the citizens.

The Southern Nigeria Governors Forum is the umbrella body for all the seventeen governors in the South-West, South-South, and South-East geo-political zones of Nigeria.

Source: Channels tv