Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Southwest have thrown their weight behind the ban on open grazing by the Southern Governors.
The party chieftains met on Sunday in Lagos to discuss issues of national interest.
At the meeting were one of the APC National Leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba; House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Minister of Trade and Industry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former APC South-West Vice Chairman, Pius Akinyelure; and elder statesman, General Alani Akinrinade, retd.
The APC chieftains called for restructuring of the country and the creation of state police.
The New Diplomat had reported that 17 governors from the Southern Nigeria had met a week ago in Asaba, Delta State, and resolved to ban open grazing and the movement of cattle by foot in the entire South.
The Southern governors, among other resolutions, also called for the restructuring of the country along fiscal federalism lines, devolution of powers and the creation of state police.
The APC leaders denounced separatist agitations by self-acclaimed O’odua Activist, Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Igboho and other separatist groups. They instead renewed their belief in the unity, stability and sustainability of the country.
The APC leaders in a communique released after the meeting backed the position of the Southern Governors.
The communique partly reads: “We endorse the position of the Southern Governors taken at their May 11, 2021 summit in Asaba, Delta State, regarding ranching.
“We do so because such a decision will lessen tensions between farmers and herders while also helping the long-term economic viability of both the farming and herding communities.
“We are mindful of the short-term dislocation this might cause but are also mindful that this position is in the best interests of all parties concerned.
“We, therefore, recommend that the federal and state governments cooperate fully with each other to enact the necessary measures to encourage this more effective and modern method of cattle-rearing so that both farmers and herders can pursue their livelihoods with greater productivity and in a more cooperative relationship that minimizes the friction between these two important pillars of our agricultural economy”.
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