By Jude Owuamanam,
Chuma Austin (Enugu)
and David Eze (Abakaliki)
In what was largely seen as a rapprochement between the South East governors and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the two antagonistic groups have agreed on the need to ban open grazing by cattle herders.
Hitherto, the two groups have had a sour relationship since the formation of IPOB by the late Dozie Ikedife. Ikedife had formed IPOB after he disagreed with the style of the Movement for the Survival of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). IPOB was thereafter embraced by Nnamdi Kanu after he parted ways with MASSOB.
Since then there has been no love lost between IPOB and South East governors, especially as the governors have not seen the group as representing Igbo interest. Subsequently the governors have done a lot of things to undermine it.
The soured relationship has made the governors to distance themselves from the organization and have failed to defend her even when it was tagged a terrorist organization by the Federal Government.
But recently there seem to be some synchronization in views, especially as regards to the menace of Fulani herdsmen in Igbo land.
Last January, Kanu, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Southeast governors to ban all forms of open grazing in the region in compliance with the 1969 Statutory Laws of Nigeria.
Kanu, who issued the notice through IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, warned that the group’s security outfit would commence the enforcement of the Anti-Grazing Law across the entire region if no action was taken at the expiration of the ultimatum.
He had asked governors in the South East to toe the steps of their Southwest counterparts in banning open grazing in their region, insisting that such move must be reciprocated and consolidated in the eastern region, adding that the bold step taken by the Yoruba governors in banning open grazing in their region was commendable and as such must be reciprocated and consolidated by a similar pronouncement in the East..
Powerful in the statement had said, “We wish to humbly and most submissively call upon all the governors of the East, to as a matter of urgency, ban all manner of open grazing in the region in compliance with the 1969 statutory law of Nigeria that banned such provocative and primitive practice by Fulani herdsmen.
IPOB had warned that if after 14 days there was no firm and decisive action by governors to ban open grazing in our land, #ESN will step into the breach to commence the enforcement of this 1969 Anti-Grazing Law across the entire region.
This must have prompted the governors to ban open grazing of cattle in the zone and movement of cows by foot into the zone.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, who disclosed this in Abakaliki during an APC stakeholders meeting enjoined leaders to exhibit patriotism in their conduct to guarantee the unity of the Country.
He said, “We are living in a dangerous time, without patriotism to our nation Nigeria; it is very difficult to have a peaceful time”
He called on leaders and stakeholders of the zone to speak up and desist from playing politics with the Security of the zone and nation.
“Governors of South East have been calling on our leaders to speak out on the Security of the zone and unity of Nigeria, I read on paper where someone said he was giving Governors of South East 7-days to ban open grazing, the Governors of southeast had banned open grazing and movement of cows by foot into South East, in each of States of the South East, we are managing ourselves well, what we discuss with the herdsmen is the system put in place for a long time”.
The Chairman of the Forum cautioned people of the zone against instigating crises in the country through the dissemination of fake videos alleging killing of Fulanis by IPOB in the South East.
“What our people must know is that Security is not political, what is demanded of the leaders is to put up programs that favour the people and foster national unity”.
Gov. Umahi announced his support for the call to flush out criminal elements from forests across the nation to boost the security of the country.
“In our forests today, we have the kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, all sorts of criminals, anybody staying in the forest is taking a risk, when we say that people should move out of the forests, it is for their safety and security, so I support that kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, and bandits should be flushed out of our forests”.
However in a rare show of reciprocity, IPOB has expressed happiness over the move and is set to enforce the law
IPOB lauded the Southeast governors for having the courage to ban open grazing in the Southeast zone, saying its Eastern Security Network (ESN) would enforce the ban.
In a statement by the Media/Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, which was made available to News Echo in Enugu on Tuesday, the group stated that they were delighted to hear the news on the prohibition of open grazing by herdsmen in the region.
The statement further read in part, “We the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to salute the courage of South East Governors for heeding our Leader’s call to ban open grazing in the region.
“We received with delight the news of a statement credited to the Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, Dave Umahi, to the effect that open grazing has been banned in all states of the zone.
“IPOB wishes to acknowledge the wisdom of the governors to respect the people’s will for the first time. If the governors had not been seized by useless fear and trepidation over the Fulani before now, our region wouldn’t have been in this mess.
“We therefore, want to aver, and assure the governors that our gallant Eastern Security Network, ESN, will ensure strict enforcement of the ban which is also in line with a subsisting but neglected judicial pronouncement in 1969.
“At the expiration of the two-week ultimatum already issued by our Leader for open grazing to end in Biafra land, IPOB and ESN will move in to deal with any herder flouting the law.
“Since the law enforcement agents are too weak or have wittingly failed to enforce the ban, we can no longer afford to sit idly and watch the wanton destruction of lives and crops of our people. ESN will do the needful.
“We shall no longer allow law breakers to have a field day after inflicting physical and economic harm on innocent victims.
“The 12 Northern Muslim States already have their Hisbah police enforcing their Sharia law yet they claim Nigeria is one.
“Alcoholic beverages worth millions of Naira belonging to Biafrans doing their legitimate business in those states have been callously destroyed by these overzealous elements and nothing happened.
“Yet some wicked mortals masquerading as herders are daily openly grazing their cattle on our farms, kidnapping our folks for ransom, killing and rapping our mothers and sisters.
“The security agents not only show blind eye to these unimaginable criminality but sometimes provide cover for the perpetrators.
“We, therefore, wish to remind all herders in Biafra land that the era of occupying our forests and grazing on our farms is gone.
“They have to vacate our forests and relocate to cities where other human beings live.
“Wandering about with cows can no longer be tolerated on Biafra soil. Anyone interested in cattle rearing will either build a ranch as obtains in civilized societies or leave Biafra land. Do not say you are not warned!
“We advise all herdsmen in Biafra land irrespective of their tribe to restrict themselves to the law of the land or relocate to regions where open grazing is allowed.
“Our patience will elapse after the expiration date of the 14-day ultimatum by our Leader, the statement added.
