Falana stated that the Presidency's stance on the matter has polarised the country further amid several threats to the country's unity.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned the opposition of the federal government to the ban on open grazing by some Southern governors.
The Presidency had on Monday described the ban, which was one of the resolutions 17 Southern governors from the zone made during their May 11 meeting in Asaba, Delta State, as of 'questionable legality'.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesman said the governors’ action 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.”

But speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law Annual Conference 2021 on Tuesday, Falana stated that the Presidency's stance on the matter has polarised the country further amid several threats to the country's unity.

He also described the federal government's decision to revive grazing reserves as a knee jerk reaction to the decision of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing, especially as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association had already accepted the ban on open grazing.

The Senior Advocate further advised the Presidency to study the Grazing Reserves Act of 1964 so as not to compound the crisis by giving the erroneous impression that grazing reserves are different from ranches.

He said, "More than ever before, the media and the Nigerian Bar Association ought to intensify the campaign for the actualisation of the provisions of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

"In particular, this is the time to mount sufficient pressure on all governments to provide for the welfare and security of the people pursuant to section 14 of the Constitution.

"However, in its belated response to the reckless killing of farmers, destruction of farms, kidnapping and raping of women by killer herders, the federal government has decided to revive grazing reserves as a knee-jerk reaction to the decision of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing.

"Thus, the reaction of the Presidency has further polarised a country whose unity is being seriously threatened by separatist groups. But the reaction is uncalled for having regard to the fact that the National Economic Council and the Nigeria Governors Forum had banned open grazing and resolved to embrace ranching.

"Whereas the Presidency has said that the fundamental right of armed herders cannot be abridged, why has the Federal Government decided to restrict the movement of cattle to grazing reserves?

"Last Friday, the Federal High Court ruled that state governments have the power to enact anti-grazing laws. Therefore, it smacks of brazen official impunity on the part of the Presidency to have said that the ban on open grazing is of doubtful legality.

"Even though it has been said that the policy would take off in June, not a single grazing reserve has been identified, prepared and put into use. Similarly, the Federal Government had announced in 2016 that 55, 000 hectares of land had been acquired in 11 states for the establishment of ranches.

"By April 2018, the Federal Government launched the National Livestock Transformation Plan with emphasis on the establishment of ranches. The Federal Government later turned round to adopt Cattle Colony and Ruga policies which were rejected by a number of state governments.

"Instead of further dividing the country along ethnic lines, we call on the Federal Government to halt the mindless killing of farmers and kidnapping of innocent people by killer herders.

"Instead of weeping more than the bereaved, the Federal Government should listen to the Miyetti Allah which has accepted the ban on open grazing and demanded the establishment of ranches.

"Since there is a popular demand for the proscription of open grazing, all hands should now be on deck to establish ranches without any further delay.

"From the information at our disposal not less than 24 states have applied to the Federal Government for the grant to establish ranches. The Presidency should not compound the crisis by giving the erroneous impression that grazing reserves are different from ranches."

http://saharareporters.com/2021/05/25/stop-crying-more-bereaved-miyetti-allah%E2%80%94-falana-tells-buhari-government

Sbkd

They are the bereaved. It is a government of cattle!

As wise as Falana is, is he not supposed to know that the federal government are the real bereaved here ?

It's a cow government. I wonder how many cows the mannequin president in asorock sees openly grazing when he goes on those wasteful medical tourism trips in the UK. He should tell us about the cows he saw openly grazing during his last trip to France. The whole world and even the rest of Africa is fast advancing in all facets of human development but here in Nigeria, the president wants open cow grazing to continue to be a norm in this 21st century. I see why igbos want to break away from these backward, parasitic people.

There are hundreds of occupation in Nigeria; headers, palm tapers, teachers, traders, importers, physiotherapist, banker, nurse, doctor, accountant, caterer, student etc. Why is this federal government ready to sacrifice everybody because of headers that are less than 1%? Even the producers of the food we eat are chased away from farms and even thier villages for Fulani headsmen to take over. What is the real motive? It can't be for economic development.

There's a motive behind every decision made by this president!

He didn't speak out when these same herdsmen were killing oooo

RussianKGB:
It's a cow government. I wonder how many cows the mannequin president in asorock sees openly grazing when he goes on those wasteful medical tourism trips in the UK. He should tell us about the cows he saw openly grazing during his last trip to France. The whole world and even the rest of Africa is fast advancing in all facets of human development but here in Nigeria, the president wants open cow grazing to continue to be a norm in this 21st century. I see why igbos want to break away from these backward, parasitic people.

The real reason Igbos are agitating is this primitive stubbornness being exibited by Malami and Garba Shehu. Why insisting that the Southern Governors should accommodate the world acclaimed 4th terror group among thier people?

You have hijacked everything in Abuja, every appointment is Fulani; why come down to our villages allowing headers from all the Sahel to move down South to kill, rape, kidnap people and displace our farmers?

BH have effectively mixed with ISWAP, killer headers, and bandits with unrestricted access to all Southern villages; yet FG don't care. This people are sending down truck loads of young boys to the South, yet FG applaud them.

What we saw is Army killing indigenous people of SE in search of ESN that was formed as FG falled to protect the SE people as we all can see. Today Nigerian forces enter streets of Owerri killing elderly women and children tagging them ESN.

We have reach the point that led to the first civil war and the FG clearly the oppressor.

God have mercy

The real enemies of this country are the presidency, aka The cabal, aka mr malami, garuba shiewu and their likes. Mr. Pantamis issues with all the allegations have been relegated to history. Who does not know that the issue of herdsmen and farmers has other meaning than the ordinary man can ever know. It's my pleasure that the northern representatives have without knowing it shown the southerns their plans which is no other thing than "internal colonialism". If not how can a business of an individual become a threat to the unity of the entire nation.

I can not even employ prophet Muhammed Buhari as a primary school teacher, this zo.o must be devided

ChiefSosa:
Na wa o, so na cows dey cause all these wahala.....COWS o. Imagine all the damage that's been caused over cows.....COWS.

IMAGINE a developing Nation discussing about the welfare of CATTLE from Last year till now.... People's private businesses.
Meanwhile we have Butchers, Spare Parts dealers, Yam dealers and many more
Why not discuss all at once since our leaders are pathognomonically stupid.

These STUPID MEN should leave there for women to try too. Dey are bunch of infernos & disgrace.

They are one and the same.

We've never been this divided as a nation. This is what you get when you elect and still support a tribal bigot like Buhari.

The solution to Nigeria is booting out the Cowlord.

Imagine the relevance cow is getting in this 21st century, indeed Buhari and his co-travellers are a huge disgrace to this nation.
Well now they know nobody can monopolize another man's territory.

During marginalization of Nig, the north were being favored with maximum land Mass together with IBB military power by cutting off some part of Kwara for Niger state and Kogi, yet this people still want to take out of the little left for SW/SE/SS just because of cow, we refuse to be bamboozled.
The north should stop misusing the power given to them bcs power do rotate and revenge is the name.
Shame on all the abokis supporting this unlawful agitation.

Malami is a stupid idiot!!!

If you quote me to say rubbish, then you are more stupid!

They are actually the bereaved. Government of the Fulanis.

Just like those fake igbo and yoruba monikers!
The matter pain them gaaaan

I've never seen so much drama over malnourished cows in my life.

As of we have a president sef

Garba Shehu is the Presidency.

Lol.

The southern gov who gives free ranching areas to herdsmen is look for trouble. Benue has even come out to say Fulani should forget it. Lol. Apart terrorising and killing souls there, that man called Ortom will never and ever want Fulani again there.

Buhari is a position leader. He doesnt even know what to do. It is funny. Lol. Anyway, the end of open grazing is here. And Fulani knows that this is the end of their flexing power in Nigeria. Buhari is the last Fulani which will rule for a long period. As we can see HellRufai is in his deep wahala. Lol.

The law, well done sir.

Thunder fire MANNA rotten head!!!

To Buhari, cows first.

This country is just a shithole, how can issue of cow becomes a country point of discussion in this 21st century.