By Uche Mbah
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has pulled a first in the South-east. He has signed the Anti-grazing Bill into Law. He thus became the first Governor in the South-east to do so.
In the midst of the seeming foot-dragging by South-east Governors over the signing of the Anti-grazing Bill into Law, not a few people were surprised Governor Ugwuanyi signed it, especially, given the fact that his name is always coming up as one of the Governors in the South-east who could jump ship and join the APC. Ugwuanyi is of the PDP.
He signed the bill at the Government House, Enugu, after it was passed by the State House of Assembly.
The law will be cited as the “Prohibition of Open Grazing and Cattle Ranching Law of Enugu State” after the governor’s assent.
The South-east Governors had been accused of foot-dragging in the decision reached by Southern governors on open grazing.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Enugu state, had pleaded to have an impute in the Bill before the House passed it.
There were palpable fears that the State Government may later accommodate their views, but apparently, this did not happen.
South-east elders had a couple of days ago said any Southern Governor that goes against the decision of the Forum’s decision on Anti-grazing should be deemed as a coup plotter against the people.
It is not known if other South-east Governors, except, perhaps, Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who is of the PDP.
Imo State Governor and his Ebonyi State Governor are of the APC. Even then, his APC counterparts in Ondo and Lagos, Rotimi Akeredolu and Babajide Sanwo-Olu have signed theirs into Law. And so has Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Many say that if Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano signs it, it will be because of the upcoming Anambra Governorship election in November.
