Falana: Expecting Buhari’s support may waste time — states should legalise open grazing ban

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says he supports the resolution of the southern governors to ban open grazing in their region.

Speaking on Wednesday when he featured on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels TV, Falana urged the governors to give legal backing to the resolution, adding that waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari’s support on the decision may be a waste of time.

On Tuesday, 17 southern governors resolved to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region.

Reacting, the human rights lawyer asked the governors to “walk their talk” by translating the resolutions into legal instruments.

“I have read the resolutions and, for me, the governors have done very well. They need to mobilise their northern colleagues,” he said.

“They need to walk their talk because if you expect that the presidency will act on this resolution, the governors may be wasting their precious time.

“Each of the state governors will have to make enabling laws to translate the decision of the communiqué to a legal instrument.”

Falana also backed the call of the southern governors for the president to address the nation, saying the citizens will want to hear directly from Buhari.

On restructuring, the human rights lawyer said the governors have formally joined the campaign, adding that the calls for secession are as a result of the refusal of the federal government to address concerns for restructuring.

Falana also noted that the ban on open grazing is in the interest of the herders, adding that night and under-aged grazing should not be allowed in any part of the country.

“In order to secure the lives and properties of every citizen in every state in the country, open grazing, night grazing, and under-aged grazing should no longer be allowed in the country,” he said.

“If we look at it, it is also in the interest of the herders.”