Anti- grazing laws: CAN youth wing leader endorses Ortom, Ishaku, others

From Musa Solomon, Yola
The President, Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has applauded the Benue state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, and his Taraba state counterpart, Senator Darius Ishaku, and other governors that are willing to implement anti-grazing laws in their domains
Addressing journalists Wednesday at the Yola International Airport, Engr. Daniel Kadzai, said that the anti-grazing laws will bring an end to the daily mindless killings of farmers by herdsmen in those states that implemented the laws.
He pointed out that the first priority of any responsible leader is the protection of lives and property in his area of operation, noting that there is no development than to find a solution to end bloody crisis.
“There cannot be any development when there is crisis in your area, no contractor can work in places where killings and burning of houses is taking place, we must commend the governor of Benue state Dr. Samuel Ortom, Taraba state governor Arch . Darius Ishaku and other governors that are working hard to ensure that the anti- grazing bills in their states have been pass into law”, he stated.
Kadzai explained that the anti- grazing law should not be misinterpreted by cattle breeders as a law targeted at them to render their business of rearing cattle unproductive, but as a law that will not only bring peace, but also promote their cattle rearing business to internal standard of using ranches.
“Some undesirable elements are trying to use the anti- grazing law to cause confusion in the country, when our leaders take a wrong action they defend it by using developed countries as example, but when the matter on ground did not protect their selfish interest they don’t make reference to developed countries again, there is no developed country that is practicing open grazing now, what is being operated is ranch system. Ranches reduce the high level of sickness the animals may contact, so we must embrace ranches in Nigeria,” he said.
While commending the security agents especially the military for the quick response to last month’s communal clash in Sarduana Local Government Area in Taraba state where about 18 people were reportedly killed, he urged the security agents not to be selective in their operations since they are all working for Nigeria’s unity.
“We are not against the security response in Taraba state, but there are more questions to this as much as the security were doing what they are pay to do. When Agatu people in Benue state were attacked by Fulani herdsmen and over 200 people were killed, there was no such response from the military; when Southern Kaduna was attacked by Fulani herdsmen and 900 people were killed there was no such rapid response from the military; when the Hausa in Ibadan in Oyo state were attacked in less than 24 hours, suspects were arrested by police and charged to court; but in Benue, no arrest because it was Fulani herdsmen that attacked and killed Christians; in Kaduna nobody has been charged to court because it was Christians that were killed,” he maintained.
Kadzai warned that if the security agents in the country have reduced themselves to a religious group instead of protecting Nigerians without religious sentiment, their existence will become valueless and they will pose serious danger to the unity of the country.