Atiku Kicks Against Anti-Grazing Laws

Nigeria's former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar who clinched the presidential nomination for the Peoples Democratic Party,defeating the likes of governor, Nyesome Wike of Rivers state, Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal,others in the primary election which held on the 28th of May,2022 has been hit with controversy hours after his victory.

Though, his emergence as the party's flagbearer may have been received with mixed feelings from Nigerians across social media platforms but the PDP are optimistic about winning the 2023 polls.

While reacting to his win by some Nigerians, they expressed concerns regarding his previous outings on issues bothering on insecurity around the country and especially his stans on resolving the herdsman vs farmers crisis where he kicked against the Anti-Grazing Laws.

In a throwback interview, Atiku vehemently kicked against the anti grazing laws which were enacted in BENUE and other states, to halt the invasion of herders.

Daily Post Media, in one of it article dated back 31st of January, 2019, "Atiku backed the herdsmen, saying anti-grazing law was unconstitutional".

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , called for a review of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law in some states of the federation.

Atiku, while answering questions on a talkshow “The Candidates” said;

"The law was unconstitutional and infringes on the rights of Fulani herdsmen to freedom of movement and residence across the country.

“We have to look at the constitutionality of those laws. I’m not sure whether they come with the provisions of our constitution which guarantees freedom of movement, the right to reside wherever you want in the country and so on, and so forth. So we have to look at that.

The constitution does not restrict the movement of people in Nigeria, so any law that restrict people from moving freely and doing their legitimate business can’t be upheld,”.

He continued;

“I believe that the best solution to the farmers/herders clashes is to try and enlighten our herdsmen on the use of feeding lots. These feeding lots can conveniently be established all over the country.

"It is an old problem, dating back to the days of the prophets. America faced the same problem. Eventually, the solution is the establishment of feeding lots all over the country,” he concluded.

Apart from his controversial views on the crisis between herdsman and farmers. Atiku also came under fire few weeks ago after he posted and deleted a message condemning Islamic Extremist for killing a Christian girl, Deborah Samuels in Sokoto over blasphemy. His decision to delete the tweet came while some northerners threatened to vote against him in 2023. See the post below 👇