Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the statement of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami equating open grazing to the sale of spare part in the North.
In a Channels TV interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Wednesday, the AGF compared the ban on open grazing by Southern Governors to that of Northern Governors ‘banning the sale of motor parts in the North.’
FFK revealed that the Fulani herdsmen are terrorists who have nothing to offer but death while traders who sell spare parts are peace-loving men and women.
“How the Attorney General can compare killer Fulani herdsmen to law-abiding spare part dealers beats me. The former are bloodthirsty terrorists who have nothing to offer but death and desteuction whilst the latter are peace-loving men and women who are providing a vital service.”
The attorney-general who was reacting to the ban of open grazing said the decision “does not hold water” in the context of human rights as enshrined in the constitution.
“It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?” he queried.
“For example it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the north.
“Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the north?”
Malami asked the southern governors to facilitate the amendment of the 1999 constitution (as amended) to prohibit open grazing.
“If you are talking of constitutionally guaranteed rights, the better approach to it is to perhaps go back to ensure the constitution is amended,” he said.
“Freedom and liberty of movement among others established by the constitution, if by an inch you want to have any compromise over it, the better approach goes back to the national assembly to say open grazing should be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment.
“It is a dangerous provision for any governor in Nigeria to think he can bring any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.”
Source: TheCable
