Masari disagrees with Presidency, says open grazing ‘un-Islamic’

Aminu Bello Masari, governor of Katsina State, has backed Southern governors’ decision on the ban on open grazing in the country, describing the practice as un-Islamic.

Masari disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with some journalists in Katsina.

Recall that two weeks ago, 17 Southern states governors banned open grazing of livestock in their respective states during their meeting in Asaba, Delta state.

They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to support the states to develop alternative and modern livestock management systems.

The governors hinged their decision on prevailing insecurity in the region, which they had blamed on Fulani herdsmen.

In reaction to the Southern governors, the Presidency questioned the legality of the governors’ decision, given the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms across the country regardless of the states of birth or residence.

The Presidency also described the ban as a move to tear the country apart.

But Masari who governs the president’s state, also toed the line of the Southern governors, advocating that the Federal Government should provide infrastructure to states for ranching, instead of supporting open grazing.

“This is something we have to do through development, to provide the necessary infrastructure that will make the herders not to move,” he said.

“The herders’ movement is essentially in search of two things: water and fodder. If we can provide these two items, why should they move?

“The roaming about, for us, is un-Islamic and it is not the best. It is part of the problems we are having today. I don’t support the idea that we should continue with open grazing.”

On devolution of power, Masari said state governments need resources to implement policies.

“I support devolution totally. The Federal Government is trying. But the states need to have resources to implement what should have been implemented by the Federal Government,” he said.