By Jibrin Miachi
Nigerians are painfully worried by the continued Sorrow, Tears and Blood in the country. The development is occasioned by the activities of cattle-rearers. To this end, members of the National Assembly, (the Senate and Federal House of Representatives) have unanimously agreed and decided to swiftly move into action. This is with a view to wiping tears and putting smiles on the faces of their people. The action the Law Makers have embarked is the discussions whether or not there should be Open-Grazing in Nigeria. This is the crux of the matter!
Senator Titus Zam is a serving APC Senator. He is representing Benue North-West Senatorial District in Benue State. The Law Maker moved the long awaited discussion on Open Grazing bills with great concern and pains. Charging his colleagues to prompt actions, Zam said, from all indications, the Senate cannot afford to look on while the country burns into ashes as a result of violent clashes between farmers and Nomadic herders.
According to him: “the adverse effects of open grazing outweigh its benefits”, stressing: “cattle rearing does not only degrade environment but disrupts agriculture and displaces farmers, thereby contributing to food insecurity” with telling effects on unacceptable Nigerians.
Thus therefore, he opined just like any other right thinking personality that “all well meaning citizens of this helpless country ought to commend the senate on this assignment”, argueing this is no doubt, the first major Pan-Nigeria attempt to address first class Sorrow, Tears and Blood in Nigeria arising from conflict of interest between farmers and herders in the country.
Whether one likes it or not, the Law-maker, Senator Zam continue, this is a solution time for this problem which appears to have strangulated this country. Aware of the enormity of this issue, the present administration under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, obviously has positions itself to fill governance gaps which its predecessor deliberately neglected to accomplish from 2015 to 2023, an agonizing years in the lives of the people of Nigeria.
Anti Open-Grazing policy ought to be at the front burner of issues requiring attentions of any leader that is sensitive to the plight of the people that willfully gave out their mandate, as demonstrated by men, women, boys and girls with a view to stamping out bad governance from our body politics.
The anti-Open Grazing policy ought to be at the front burner of this government because of the capacity of this issue to massively disrupt national integration.
Thus therefore, Zam advised that never again should our politicians play politics with boiling issues such as this 0pen Grazing and of course, ethnicity and religion for the sake of fairness and togetherness. People should not oppose issues like that of open grazing just to satisfy emotions of their constituents. They must however be ready to consider the overall interest of the nation because one cannot play politics in a vacuum.
Political leaders or representatives should not be rigidly behind issues just to satisfy their people but be considerate enough to embrace views and interests of others when it is necessary. Open Grazing has done harm more than good in this country. Cattle rearers with their personal interest, doesn’t only degrade the environment but it destroys soil and forests just as it pollutes clean water. Similarly, it disrupts agriculture and of course, displaces farmers and innocent women are being kidnapped and allegedly brutally raped.
Unfortunately, these contribute greatly to problem of food insecurity and scarcity. The most serious effect of open-grazing is the killing of citizens, a very sad incident which no one has been able to checkmate over the years.
The need to call for a rise against this appalling development became heightened when it is realized that cattle herders and other farmers had lived cordially in the same communities. Herders had always, on their own volitions, voluntarily compensates offended farmers whose crops were destroyed by their cattle. This makes it obvious that regulation of open-grazing is overdue.
Let us remind ourselves that this is not the first time attempt to solve this man-made-problem was undertaken in this country. For example, the Western Region of this country in the ‘60s, it would be recalled, went to Court in pursuit of this problem. However, the problem persists.
Within and outside the National Assembly, let us put parochial interest behind to make ourselves a testimony of good example which we are known for over the years of our existence, as a nation/country and as a people.
Sentiment will do no one of us any good. Consequently, as collectively we agreed to sit together to right the wrong which is threatening the survival, unity and progress of this country, the love and future of our children should matter to us in our actions!