Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said that banning open grazing in the southern part of Nigeria is like banning spare parts trading in the North.
He made the analogy in response to the banning of open grazing by southern governors.
According to him, the decision is unconstitutional because herders have the right to be in any part of the country.
He said on a Channels Television programme on Wednesday:
“It is about constitutionality. Within the context of the freedoms enshrined in our constitution, can you deny a right of a Nigerian? It is as good as saying may be the Northern governors coming together to say that 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.
“If you are talking of a constitutionally guaranteed right, the better approach to it is perhaps to go back and ensure that the constitution is amended. The freedom and liberty of movement, amongst others is established by the constitution.
“If by an inch, you want to have any compromise, the better approach is to go back to the National Assembly for open grazing to be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment in that respect but it is a very dangerous position for any governor in Nigeria to think that he can bring about any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.”
