By Deji Elumoye With just six days to the September 1, 2021 target set by the 17 southern governors for states in the region to enac...
By Deji Elumoye
With just six days to the September 1, 2021 target set by
the 17 southern governors for states in the region to enact anti-open grazing
legislation, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has become the first governor
from the region to go against the agreement reached with his colleagues.
The governor yesterday declared that there is no law
forbidding open grazing by cattle rearers in the state.
Uzodinma, who spoke with newsmen yesterday after meeting
with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, argued that though
there is presently no anti-grazing law in the state, his government was trying
to regulate grazing activities through collaboration between the farmers and
herders.
The 17 governors of the southern states had in a meeting
held in Lagos on July 5, 2021, urged states in the region to ensure that the
legislation against open grazing of cattle was put in place on or before
September 1.
Following the governors’ resolution, Delta, Osun, Ondo,
Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Enugu state governments had moved to enact
anti-open grazing laws. But before the resolution of the governors, the
anti-open grazing law was already operational in Ogun, Abia, Oyo, Ekiti, and
Ebonyi states.
But in sharp contrast with the agreement reached by the
southern governors, Uzodimma said: “I don’t have any law in Imo State for
anti-grazing. But what we have done is that we are regulating grazing
activities in Imo State under a partnership between our farmers and herders.
They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in my office and agreed to
work together. And both parties are going about their businesses without
interfering or causing any grievance or anger to each other.”
He also said the recent sit-at-home order given by the
Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB) was not carried out in the state, saying
people went about their normal businesses.
He further disclosed that the Igbo people are now ready to
play national politics by belonging to the party at the centre, saying this
would play out with the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
Commenting on the sit-at-home order, he said: “To the extent
of what I know on the sit-at-home order, even the people on their own called
off the sit-at-home order. In Imo State, it is not being observed. People are
doing their businesses.
“Most people in Imo are businessmen and women who depend on
their daily activities and income to feed their families. So, they cannot
afford to sit at home idle and allow hunger to ravage the state.”
Uzodinma stressed that there is only one government in the
state headed by him and that at no time did he ask people not to go about their
businesses.
According to him: “I know in Imo State, there is only one
Governor and only the governor can order, working with other members of the
government, that people should sit at home and it will be obeyed. I don’t want
to sit here and recognise that there is any order outside the government of Imo
State because there is a government.
“IPOB is not a government in Imo State. Imo State government
has not authorised anything at all. Workers are going to work and normal
business activities are ongoing. And for now, I told you that Imo State is
relatively calm.”
Speaking as Chairman of the APC campaign Committee for the
November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election, Uzodinma stated that the Igbos would
the election to confirm their readiness to play national politics and be part
of the government at the center.
He said: “You know our President. You know him (Mr.
President), he will only encourage you. He doesn’t interfere. We are in charge
of the campaign. I’m the Chairman of the Council. And the good news is that the
political leadership in Igbo land has resolved to be part of the federal
government, to participate at the national level, to leave the provincial
championship to national championship.
“So, what we have decided to do is to ensure that we embrace
the ruling party, the APC. And we are taking the message to Anambra. And by the
grace of God, Anambra people will buy the message and Igbo land will be
recovered”.
The governor also disclosed that the President has
intervened in some ecological problems facing the state as three contracts for
the control of erosion would soon be awarded.
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