EDAttorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN has likened the proposed banning of open grazing by the southern governors to outlawing the sale of spare parts by Igbo traders in the northern part of the country.
He made this comparison when he appeared on a show on Channels Television ‘Politics Today’ anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.
He said:
“It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?
“For example: it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the north.
“Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the north?”
Malami also told Southern Governors to facilitate the amendment of the 1999 constitution to prohibit open grazing.
He added:
“If you are talking of constitutionally guaranteed rights, the better approach to it is to perhaps go back to ensure the constitution is amended.
“Freedom and liberty of movement among others established by the constitution, if by an inch you want to have any compromise over it, the better approach is go back to the national assembly to say open grazing should be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment.
“It is a dangerous provision for any governor in Nigeria to think he can bring any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.”
ED
