Opara UgonnaGOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has appealed to the Federal Government to assist in the funding of its proposed National Livestock Transformation Programme in the state.
In a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the governor who explained why his state had not passed the Anti-Open Grazing Bill as agreed by Southsouth governors, noted that the project was expensive, and the Federal Government should make funds available for interested individuals under the programme.
In his words, “If we are asking that we should now have ranches and these cattle should now be constrained to specific areas, such as ranches, then who provides the land?”
“My people say that as far as they’re concerned, ranching is a private business and, therefore, just like every other agricultural venture, those involved should provide the land.”
“As you already know, it is expensive; it is not cheap to run and manage ranches.”
Obaseki mentioned to told the President that Edo State residents had chosen over ranching.
According to him, “As you know, most southern states have passed laws relating to open grazing. But Edo has not because we want to ensure that whatever laws we pass are laws that we can enforce. We’ve had extensive consultations with our people, extensive town hall meetings, to deal with the issue. Yes, we do not want open grazing: it is out-modelled; it’s outdated. However, what are the options?
The governor who also hinted on his pending return to his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obaseki explained that he did not leave the party of his own volition, but was forced out.
“I think I’ve shown that I’m a politician with integrity. I have made it very clear that I didn’t leave the other party (APC) on my own. I was pushed out of the party, and someone else gave me cover, gave me an opportunity.
“It will not be the right thing to do to now: to leave who helped you, who gave you the umbrella in your storm and then go back to the person who pushed you out,” Obaseki added.
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