Open grazing: Southern governors on point - Lagos lawmakers

The Lagos State House of Assembly has supported the Southern governors’ ban on open grazing in the southern part of Nigeria, saying it would check insecurity and end farmers-herders’ clashes in the region.

The lawmakers also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement other resolutions of the southern governors, who recently met in Asaba, Delta State, including the devolution of power to the 36 federating states.

They commended the southern governors for speaking with one voice, adding that Buhari should at a matter of urgency address the nation on all issues raised by the governors.

The position of the Lagos lawmakers was arrived at during a plenary session on Tuesday under matters of urgent public importance raised by the deputy majority leader, Noheem Adams.

Adams, who analysed the poor state of the nation, commended the efforts of the southern governors for rising up against the insecurity facing the nation.

The deputy majority leader stated that the southern governors had clearly stated the minds of every Southerner on insecurity, appealing to President Buhari to listen to the governors and implement their resolutions.

While contributing, Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 1) said that there was a need for devolution of power in the federation so that the insecurity challenges could be promptly addressed, adding that the rate of killings in the country was alarming and increasing daily.

Also, Sentoji David ( Badagry 2) said that security and welfare of the people were the priorities of the government, adding that the Nigeria 1999 Constitution was antithetical to the progress and unity of the country.

The majority leader, Sanai Agunbiade, in his comments, said that the country could not continue in the way it was going, calling on the federal government to come out openly to address the nation as the president cannot be quiet on issues of national concerns.

However, the speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said that it was the first time the southern governors would come together to speak with one voice on the insecurity, adding that some of the resolutions, especially state police had long been canvassed for by the House.

He commended the southern governors on their efforts, advising them to take a step further in meeting with the president on their resolutions.