Southern Governors Ban Open Grazing, Ask Buhari To Talk

Southern governors on Tuesday appraised the security situation in the country and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reimpose confidence in the polity by addressing the nation on the situation on ground.

A communique of the meeting of the governors held in Asaba, Delta State also declared the banning of open grazing in the Southern part of the country upon what they claimed was the infiltration of armed herders and bandits among the herders.

They also called for the creation of state police.

The meeting was attended by 13 governors and two deputy governors(Akwa Ibom and Imo)  with the notable exceptions being the governors of Cross River and Osun States.

The chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who read the communique stated thus:

He said, “Southern Governors expressed very grave concern on the security challenges 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.

“We 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;

“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.

“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.”

The 15 governors present were Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

Others were Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Willie Obiano (Anambra).

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