Group Demands Obaseki/Onobun To Urgently Pass Open Grazing Bill
By Our REPORTER
A socio-political group, the New Nigeria Initiative (NNI) has called on Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Speaker Onobun of Edo State House of Assembly to urgently pass the bill on ban on Open Grazing in the State as the delay is effecting the leaving standard of the good people of the state.
The group who protested through some major streets in Benin City was at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, to register their displeasure over the delay on the passage of the opening grazing bill. “We wondered why the state government and Edo State Assembly has refused to pass the bill as agreed by the 17 Southern States Governors in Asaba, Delta State,” the group asked.
The protest statement signed by Uwadiae Odigie – Chairman and Comrade Ugbatako Nowinta – Secretary condemned the delay in passing the bill.
They stated that, the people are worried about the delay and asked, “What Is Governor Goodwin Obaseki Waiting For?
“We are moved by the unspeakable horror being perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen on the peaceful and law abiding people of Edo State. It is on record that the New Nigeria Initiative (NNI) initiated a bill on the need to ‘Ban Open Grazing’ in Edo State; and it has since been sent to the Edo State House of Assembly.
“After waiting in vain, we made frantic efforts to see His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, on the need for his intervention. At the end of the day, Mr. Governor directed us to go see the Edo State Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We were excited and elated when the Southern Governors Forum fixed September 1st, 2021, deadline for Governors in the area to pass the law banning open grazing in their respective States.
“We have also been mounting pressure on the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun on the urgent need to pass the bill, but all efforts have not scale through.
“Now it has been transparently and sufficiently established that the Fulani herdsmen are the ones unleashing terror and fear in Edo State, by the horrible and shocking cases of the late Jide Sowore and others; the recent kidnapping of the elder statesman, Dickson Imasogie; plus other isolated cases of kidnapping.
Now that many states within the South-South have responded to the September 1st, 2021, deadline; and the Fulani herdsmen are still ravaging our forests and highways with the fiercest brand of terrorism ever, with its attendant catastrophic consequences on our psyche, what is Governor Goodwin Obaseki of Edo State waiting for.
Our hopes are becoming evaporated in the face of this sadistic menace, even as we are convinced that Edo State House of Assembly and Governor Goodwin Obaseki will soon do the needful to bring into urgent reality the ‘Law Banning Open Grazing in Edo State.
The group appeal to the governor to be
on the side of the people and urgently pass the bill in the state.
