Anti-Open Grazing Law: Activist Urges S’East Governors To Emulate Ugwuanyi

A civil rights activist, Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie, Wednesday, urged governors of the southern zone of the country to emulate Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State by signing the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law.

Nze Chukwumezie told our correspondent that, “The signing of the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law by Gov Ugwuanyi is a welcome development. It is even unfortunate he allowed himself to be among the southern governors that failed to meet the 1st September deadline. 

“The primary role of any chief executive is protection of lives and property of the people. This should be done without fear, favour or victimizing anyone or group. 

“It is unfortunate that in Africa, chief executives fail to uphold this primary constitutional responsibility. Some are clearly seen to either be sponsoring them, collaborating with the perpetrators and/or refusing to take necessary actions within their reach. 

“Shame on governors yet to sign theirs. History will be so unkind to them. What we do or fail to do today write themselves as history of tomorrow. Let them continue with their insensitivity, political nativity or cowardice.”

THE WHISTLER reports that Governor Ugwuanyi yesterday signed the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law. The bill was passed by the state House of Assembly on September 2nd to prohibit open grazing, regulate cattle ranching, and for connected purposes.

With this development, Governor Ugwuanyi joins the league of southern governors to have passed the law. This comes some 24 hours ahead of the meeting of southern governors billed to hold in Enugu. At their inaugural meeting held in Lagos, September 1 was fixed as deadline to sign the bill into law in their various states.