By Praise Chinecherem
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MCBAN), South East zone, has appealled to the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, not to enforce the anti open grazing law, for now.
The cattle breeders who made the appeal on Monday, said implementing the law would adversely affect its members’ source of survival in the prevailing circumstances.
Soludo had, during a meeting with members of Anambra State Cattle Menace Committee at the Government House, Awka, last month, ordered the ban on movement of cattle on foot in any part of the state.
Soludo had said the ban was in compliance with the 2021 anti-open grazing law of the State, adding that enforcement would begin from September, 2022.
The governor said,“Though the law has been in existence since almost one year ago, cattle rearers keep parading certain areas in the state in contravention to the law.”
A former governor of the state, Willie Obiano, had assented to the Cattle and Other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill of Anambra State in 2021, but failed to enforce the ban.
Speaking on the development on Monday, the leader of the Myetti Allah in the South-east zone, Gidado Siddiki, begged Soludo to suspend the implementation of the law to enable them to educate their members more on the matter.
He said, “Majority of us (Fulanis), don’t know any business more than rearing of cattle in this world. Some of us were born and bred in this rearing of cattle business here in Anambra state. We have know other place to go.
“The herders are aware that the state governor has flagged off massive tree planting exercise in the 181 communities as part of measures to control the spread of gully erosion in the state, and as law abiding citizens, we have caution all our members and equally urged them to protect the trees in their various host communities.
“Our members have remained committed to peaceful coexistence with their host communities in the state and the South-East geopolitical zone at large.
“We therefore, called on concerned stakeholders including the media to help us beg the governor, if possible, to revised his decision on the ban.
