More knocks for grazing reserves bill

By Nsikan Ikpe

More knocks have continued to greet the proposed grazing reserves bill presently under consideration in Nigeria’s National Assembly.

Coming on the heels of its rejection by a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation last week, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, at the weekend rose from a meeting in Enugu with a call for improved security in the country, even as it rejected the grazing bill now before the National Assembly.

Ohanaeze stated unequivocally that cattle rearing is a private business and therefore should not be used to infringe on the rights of individuals and communities in the country.

Besides, there were also strong indications yesterday of a mother of all protests that involves leaders and various organisations of the zone against the continued attack by Fulani herdsmen on innocent people of the zone in Enugu on Tuesday.

The modus operandi of the protest billed for Okpara Square was the epicentre of the meeting of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governors, which took place at the Enugu Government House on Sunday.

Perhaps underscoring the sensitivity of the discussions, reporters were barred from the meeting. However, the three governors elected on the platform of the PDP in the zone, including Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), were in attendance.

Other dignitaries present included Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi.

In a related development, South-East governors yesterday rose from their closed-door meeting with Ekweremadu in Enugu with a resolve to visit the troubled Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Council where scores of persons were gruesomely murdered last Monday.

The governors include Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

 Briefing newsmen at the end of their meeting, Ekweremadu said the governors would get their colleague governors from Anambra, Chief Willy Obiano and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to join them in the proposed visit to the community within the week.

 He said the visit is aimed at taking stock of the carnage in the area with a view to their taking a definite position as leaders of the South-East zone.