COCIN SEMINAR ON THE GRAZING/RANCHING RESERVES POLICY

COCIN Headquarters Church organised a seminar on Saturday, August 13, 2016 to discuss the topic, “The Grazing Reserve Policy: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Resource persons invited to do justice to the topic were Prof. S. Tyoden, Plateau State Deputy Governor, Prof. John Wade, Director of Strategic Planning and Research, Dr. Musa, a retired veterinarian and practicing cattle rearer, Hon. Benny Lar, Hon. I. D. Gyang and Hon. Rima Shawulu. Hon. I. D. Gyang did not turn up and didn’t send in any apologies.  

The four-hour session was very interesting and emotive. Arguments for and against the proposed Grazing Reserve Policy were put forward. Of course, the Plateau State Govt. representatives tried to justify their interest in the Policy. They made it clear though that no final decision on it had been arrived at by Govt. Everything about it is still at the proposal stage. Even this Govt position was so obnoxious to the audience that they literally heckled and shouted down the Deputy Gov. The chairman of the occasion, Rtd. Rear Admiral S. B. Atukum, had a hectic time trying to make the audience to respect the dignitaries before them. 

Hon. Rima Shawulu stole the show and received several standing ovations for his "not politically correct" stand on the matter. He made it clear that his Taraba State, along with Benue and Nassarawa States have decided not to adopt the Policy and pleaded with Plateau State to join them so that voice of the Middle Belt will be one on the matter. He believes that the Grazing Reserve Policy is a ‘Trojan Horse’, a metaphor for a trick to invade and plunder us by the some Nigerians. He said the draft Bill on it is insulting as only herdsmen can be appointed by the President as members of to the proposed Grazing Reserve Commission. He argued that as far as he is concerned, cattle rearing is a private enterprise which does not qualify as a national cause to justify the taking over of land by the Federal Govt. The reliance on the Land Use Act, which specifies the circumstances under which the Fed Govt can take over land from users, cannot be met by the needs of cattle rearers and so any such law can be challenged in court.

During the question and answer session, 7 out of the 8 questions asked by the audience were directed at the Govt representatives. The tone of the questions was an indication that the public hates the idea of Grazing and/or Ranching Reserves. By the end of the session, the Plateau State Govt was roundly condemned to have even contemplated adopting the Policy.

Our advice to Plateau State Govt is to kindly adhere to the wishes of their people who elected them into office. Disaster looms if they don’t. The solution to the many problems of Nigeria is in restructuring the country. We need to install true federalism and not the present unitary State that molests and bullies the entire populace.