Uzodimma Should Not Treat Anti Open Grazing Law With Kid Gloves, We Want Total Ban – Imo State Congress Of America (ISCA)
An umbrella organisation for Imo Indigenes resident in the Americas has reacted to the growing dissatisfaction over non-passage of full anti-open grazing law in Imo state by Governor Hope Uzodimma , wondering the reason for the delay.
The group reacted in a statement signed by its President, Engr. Sampson Udeh and the Secretary-General, Rev. Dr. Reginald Godfrey, calling on Governor Uzodimma and members of the Imo state House of assembly to pass a full anti-open-grazing law to nip in the bud the bloody clashes in the State.
Nigerian Southern Governors had met on September 30, 2021, in Asaba, Delta State to deliberate on the state of the region with special emphasis on the security situation.
This was not unconnected with the growing insecurity across the country occasioned by farmers-herders skirmishes, which has led to the wanton killings and destruction of property, including cash crops and other valuables by reported gun wielding herders and their cattle.
Recall that one major resolution among others after their deliberation was requesting all the states from the southern part of Nigeria to enact anti-open grazing law.
According to Engr. Udeh, their worries stem from the fact that since the inaugural meeting of the Southern Governors in Asaba and others that follow, , most southern states among which are Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Ekiti and Abia states have all passed the anti open grazing law, leaving out only Imo and Ebonyi states in the South east.
While the controversy of Uzodimma’s response when asked why he had not signed anti open grazing law as unanimously agreed by the Southern governors, Imo Congress of America noted: “that during the Achike Udenwa’s administration, Imo State enacted anti-open grazing law.
“However, the law did not go far enough. The law was Law 9, 2006, which was called “a Law to prohibit the grazing of cattle in restricted areas in Imo State matter related thereto.” The anti-open grazing law requested by the southern governors called for a total ban and not restricted or partial ban.
“According to the stipulation of the law, “rearing of cattle means breeding of cows and others, taking cattle out for grazing in Owerri Capital Territory with 5km radius measured from Douglas Road post Office, Owerri and every part of Imo state is hereby prohibited.
“Again, according to the spirit of Law No. 6, a cattle rearer cannot take his cattle into cultivated land within Imo state. Anybody who contravenes section 3 and some of these laws is guilty of an offence and liable to pay a fine of N50, 000. In the case of section 4, they will pay compensation to the crop owner to cover the total cost of the crops destroyed by the cattle in addition to a fine which may be prescribed by the magistrate court. This is completely clear and unambiguous.”
Imo State Congress of America in their resolution as communicated in their statement insists that; “open grazing of cattle be banned completely and permanently in Imo State henceforth; adding that development and population growths have put pressure on available land for food crops and other purposes, thereby increasing the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the State.
“Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in entire Imo State including cattle movement in the State by foot.”
Recall that when Governor Uzodimma was asked the reason the state had not passed the full anti-open grazing law, said “I don’t have any law in Imo State for Anti-Grazing. What we have done is that we are regulating grazing activities in the State under a partnership between our farmers and our cattle herdsmen.”
The President of Imo State Congress of America, Chief Engr. Sampson Udeh, revealed that when contacted by the concern Imo citizens, members of the public and the media, said that the people of the state have suffered wanton loss of lives and property long with incidences of rape before the present call for total prohibition of open grazing law.
He also stated that the state government and legislators have the moral obligations of protecting lives and property of the citizens of the state. “What you do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows”, he stated.
He stated: “ISCA is calling on the Imo State legislators to immediately commence work on the bill of anti-open grazing law as was unanimously mandated by the southern States Governors. Imo State cannot be seen by southern counterparts as hostile to the common interest of the region”.
Imo State Congress of America is the umbrella organization of all Imo State indigenes resident in the Americas. We are obligated to ensuring the safety of Imo citizens and good governance respectively. Imo State Must Be Safe, Secure and Prosperous.
