From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
The leaders of the cattle rearers association, Miyetti Allah Hor and Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, GAFDAN, has pleaded with the Enugu State House of Assembly to give them more time to make input in the anti-grazing bill before the state house of assembly.
Head of Miyetti Allah in the South East, Alhaji Gidado Idris and Zonal Chairman, Musa Abdulahi, respectively asked the Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Ethics and Priveledges, etc during the public hearing on the Law to Prohibit Open Grazing and Regulate Cattle Ranching, to give them one month to go and deliberate on the bill to make their own submission.
The House came up with the bill because of the outcry in the state over killings, maiming, destruction of farm lands being carried out by herders in different communities in the state.
But commenting on the bill that has passed first and second reading, the duo said they needed more time inform their people on the new development.
“Honourable chairman, we are requesting that let thirty days (30 days) be given to us so that the elders and members of Gan-Allah Development Association of Nigeria, DAFDAN, be briefed about this development.
” It is of very important for our members and elders to be aware of this development in order to avoid some doubts or misconception that, the government of Enugu State has given huge amount of money and we fail to communicate or inform them about the new development, ” the plead.
Speaking while declaring open the public hearing, deputy speaker, Hon. Uche Ugwu said the essence of the bill is to ensure peace and progress in Enugu State and Nigeria.
“We are one people in Nigeria guided by one constitution. What we want to do is to put a law that will bring peace and progress in Nigeria.
” In our respective villages, we rear goats, sheep and other animals but we don’t allow them to eat other peoples crops, otherwise we report the person to the village chiefs and elders where they pay penalties,” he said and urged those who have submissions to make to do so with open mind.
Explaining the objective of the bill, the chairman of the joint committees in charge of the bill and the public hearing, Hon. Amaka Ugwueze, said the bill when passed would stop the destruction of farms, rape and other crimes and also to prevent and control the spread of animal diseases as well as check the devastation of the environment.
Recall that Fulani herdsmen have killed many villagers in recent time especially the 2016 where Nimbo people in Uzo-Uwani Local government area were mascaraed in their names and recently the killing of many villages in Eha Amufu, Isi-Uzo local government area among other gruesome murders carried out by the herdsmen.
