Open Grazing: AGF Malami Has Right To Personal Opinion – Adedipe, SAN

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, has said that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has no need to apologize over his comments on the topical issue of open grazing.

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that Malami had said that the ban on open grazing by Southern governors was a violation of the constitutional right of herders, adding that “the better approach to it is to perhaps go back to ensure the Constitution is amended.”

Reacting to a question in an interview with Punch, Adedipe said Malami cannot be asked to retract his statement or apologize for them since it was within his constitutional right to hold opinion and express it on any issue.

“As I earlier mentioned, Malami merely expressed his personal opinion. Why should he apologise for that? I am sure some people will not agree with what I am saying, but I will not listen to anybody calling for Malami to retract his statement. Malami has a right to free speech under the Constitution. Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) provides that everyone is entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions,” he said on Wednesday.

Adedipe further said that Malami’s comment should be seen as his own point of view on the national discourse and should not be seen as an interpretation of the constitution.

The Presidency also appear to have backed the AGF’s comment in a statement issued on Monday faulting the southern governor’s position on open grazing.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s senior media assistant, Garba Shehu , in the statement said: “It is very clear that there was no solution offered from their resolutions to the herder-farmer clashes that have been continuing in our country for generations..”

However, the Chairman, Southern Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, maintained that that the forum’s decision “is irreversible and will be enforced.”