We have gathered from the media, the press statement of an Association of cattle breeders, Miyetti Allah Kataul Hore through its Secretary, Saleh Hassan.
We would have ignored this unwarranted and illogical outburst (as we most often do) but we were stirred up by the recollection of Edwin Burkeâs quote that âthe only necessary thing for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothingâ.
Many times, we just shake our head in disbelief that this is happening in real life and not that we are watching a melo-dramatic Nollywood thriller.
We wish to state as follows:
1) Farmers, Agropreneurs and citizens of sane extraction, fully support, and were part of the process, of enacting this anti-open grazing law. We stand by it and vehemently support its enforcement.
2) Miyetti Allah, Ondo State chapter was part of the public hearing by the Ondo State House of Assembly and publicly proclaimed that they embrace ranching and modern cattle breeding techniques. We believe that this is more sensible and peace inclined!.
3) If there is no allusion to the fact that we are in a banana republic, how can there be the thought of ever proposing a law in the National Assembly to legalise (and therefore make enforceable) wanton destruction of fellow citizensâ livelihood and make the outbreak of a full blown war a very high probability?
4) When unknown people & animals destroy farms, communities and water sources, they are always âNOT OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS/BANDITSâ.
However, when there are measures taken to curb these criminal activities, MIYETTI ALLAH KATAUL HORE is the organization that is always protesting OR is the organization on legal retainership for criminals and bandits?
One would rather think that the organization should actively work with law enforcement agents to relentlessly expose these criminal elements since their members saturate the various forests and reserved areas which serve as hideout to these workers of wickedness!
5) We wish to reiterate that cattle rearing is part of agribusiness in the livestock category. Those that raise pigs, chickens, turkeys, grasscutters, sheep, and goats e.t.c are in the same line of business with those that rear cattle. Are cattle superior livestock? Are they âborn to be freeâ and must not be confined and fed at the ownerâs cost?
6) Other bonafide citizens of Nigeria have a right to pursue their livelihood and everyday life in peace, OR DONâT WE?
I hope those in authority will reassure us that we do. Or are we fooling ourselves by believing this?
7) We submit WITH EVERY IOTA OF CONVICTION that our cries, our representation and the State authoritiesâ consideration of serving us, brought forth this LONG OVERDUE LAW to offer some level of protection to us. Enforcing the law will therefore bring peace and not chaos as some might be threatening.
As surely as the wringing of the nose brings blood and the churning of milk brings butter, those who think of unleashing mayhem on law abiding people will be consumed by their own schemes!
8) We do not believe in the course of violence, but it must be said, that the sayings of our elders reveal why the hawk preys on a chickenâs young ones but refrains from the duckâs own. We need not say more.
9) Our advice to the Federal authorities âBe fair to all, pursue a Nigerian agendaâ all will be well.
In Ondo State we are hospitable people but hospitality that we lead us to the Hospital (Dead or alive) is unacceptable to us and has passed the threshold of our tolerance.
Signed by:
Heads of Agricultural value chains in Ondo State
Under the Aegis of Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association (OSACA)