Edo state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has faulted the Anti-Grazing Bill currently before the House of Assembly, adding that the solution to nomadic problems in the state was not contained in the bill.
The governor made this known in Benin during a public hearing organized by assembly on the bill intended for a law to establish control for nomadic cattle rearing in the state.
Obaseki, who was represented by the Solicitor General of the state, Mr Wole Iyamu, said that the state government had “absolutely nothing.” to do with the bill.
“If the bill had gone through the rigour that executive bills go through, it will not have generated so much controversy. The bill did not address the problems on ground. It fails to define who nomadic farmers are. The failure of the bill to define grazing can ruin the purpose of a law during litigation. The bill is supposed to outlive us if it is properly drafted.
“Land is fundamental to the people, therefore, when you begin to touch issues that concern land you need to be very careful. The bill did not define who designates land for ranching, because government does not own land; it only holds land in trust for the people,” the governo said.
The governor pointed out that there was no provision in the bill that empowered government to designate land for ranching.
“If there is a provision in the bill that empowers government to designate land for ranching, then consent of government would be sought. Again, the solution to the problems of nomadic cattle-rearing is not contained in the bill,’’ Obaseki stated.
In his contribution, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Mr Oyenude Kuru, said that the bill did not represent the interest of Edo people.
