– Abubakar Malami (SAN), Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, on Thursday came under fire for challenging the decision of Southern governors banning open grazing in the region.
Reactions have poured in from across the nation and outside to this absolutely unlegal and tactless statement even as Nigerians continue wondering at what point in out national journey we took this turn that has brought us to a point where a near illiterate has to be the voice and face of our judiciary.
It is no longer news that the 17 governors of the geographical region in Nigeria called the South of Nigeria reacting to the increasing spate of killings in their region, caused by marauding cattle herders bearing sophisticated weapons.
Malami had described the action of the Southern governors as unconstitutional. He spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Wednesday, saying the decision of the governors “does not align with the provisions of the constitution, hence it does not hold water.”
“It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian? “For example: it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the Northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the North.”
Open Grazing Ban Decision Irreversible — Akeredolu
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Thursday dared the Attorney General of the Federation to challenge in court the decision of the Southern Governors’ Forum banning open grazing in the region.
A statement signed by Akeredolu and made available to newsmen in Akure, the state capital, squared the attorney general for comparing the ban on open grazing to banning all spare parts dealers in the Northern part of the country.
Declaring that there was no going back on the ban, Akeredolu emphasised that open grazing had been outlawed and would be vigorously enforced in the Southern part of the country.
The statement read in parts: “I have just read the statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), on the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum to ban open grazing in their respective states.
“The AGF is quoted to have said that this reasoned decision, among others, is akin to banning all spare parts dealers in the Northern parts of the country and is unconstitutional.
“It is most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distill issues as expected of a Senior Advocate. Nothing can be more disconcerting.
