The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has strongly condemned the idea of open grazing, stating that any legislation permitting it, in any form, is not in the interest of the country’s peace and security.
The National Spokesperson of CUPP, Comrade Mark Adebayo, expressed this concern in response to the ongoing debate on the Anti-Open Grazing Bill before the Senate, which has passed its second reading. He noted that open grazing, regardless of regulation, would continue to promote extreme violence between herders and other Nigerian citizens, not just farmers.
According to Adebayo, in an interview with our correspondent, herders will always prioritize the welfare of their cattle over humans, insisting that “open grazing promotes anarchy, violence, and insecurity because herders are mostly uncontrollable.”
The rights activist suggested that issues related to grazing should be decided by individual states based on their policies, rather than being a national issue.
“In the first instance, any legislation that permits open grazing in any form is not in the interest of peace and security. Open grazing, no matter how regulated by legislation, will continue to promote extreme violence between herders and other Nigerian citizens, not just farmers, because herders will always prioritize the welfare of their cattle over humans.
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“Issues related to grazing should be left to individual states to decide which policy suits them. It shouldn’t be a national affair. One state may permit open grazing while another may insist on ranching. It should be left to each state to determine what policy suits it,” the CUPP spokesperson said.
“In any case, open grazing promotes anarchy, violence, and insecurity because herders are mostly uncontrollable,” he added.
Adebayo said that the herders had caused enough damage in this country and had even threatened Nigeria’s corporate existence on several occasions. He recalled that during the immediate past administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, no issue divided the country more than the menace of herders who were killing, raping, and destroying farms and properties en masse.
According to him, such brigandage has not stopped even now but has “only minimally reduced,” saying that Nigerians should not allow it to continue. He emphasized the need to adopt ranching as “the way to go in this modern age,” adding that if any state chooses to permit open grazing, that’s its choice, but it should not be a national policy.
“They’ve caused enough damage in this country and have even threatened Nigeria’s corporate existence on several occasions.
“During the Buhari administration, no issue divided us more than the menace of herders who were killing, raping, and destroying farms and properties en masse. That menace hasn’t stopped even now; it has only minimally reduced.
“We can’t allow this to continue. Ranching is the way to go in this modern age, but if any state chooses to permit open grazing, that’s its choice but should not be a national policy,” the CUPP spokesperson stated.