Open Grazing Ban: There’ll Be No Peace – Fulani Group Warns Southern Governors

The Gan Allah Fulani Development Association, GAFDAN, a Fulani group, has warned against the Southern governors’ decision to outlaw open grazing.

A restriction on open grazing, according to GAFDAN, would result in a collapse of peace between Northerners and Southerners.

The group said that the governors’ decision will foster animosity between Southerners and Northerners.

Southern governors under the umbrella of the Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, had agreed to ban open grazing in their region.

During their meeting in Lagos State, the governors agreed that the ban would take effect from September 1.

However, GAFDAN’s National Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, described the resolution as unfortunate and capable of affecting Nigeria’s unity.

Abdullahi said the resolution was impossible because they have not made an alternative plan for herders.

According to Abdullahi: “If you stop open grazing in the South, you are simply saying that those people should move to the North or they should move to other parts of the country. What happens if those in the North also ask the Southerners to leave?

“Are we promoting unity or hatred? What the governors are saying is practically impossible and it does not promote the unity of this country.

“You don’t stop people’s means of living and expect peace to reign. So, the implication is that the unity of Nigeria is going to be in question.

“You don’t expect those that will be affected to return to the North and live in peace with people from the South living in the North”.