The Southern Governors Forum, a socio-political group consisting of Governors of Again, Delta, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Benue, Samuel Ortom; Rivers, Nyesom Wike; and Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had on Friday issued a counter- press statement to state emphatically its stance concerning the reviewed 368 grazing sites in 25 states across the country by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Similarly, other pressure groups such as Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere; Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze; and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, operating within the southern hemisphere of the country had unanimously echoed their displeasure against the Executive order assented by the President.
In a joint statement, the governors of the Southern states expressed shock at the President’s insistence on establishing grazing sites despite the opposition from the southern states. Their worries stem from the prevalence of insecurity in the country.
It will be recalled that the Seventeen governors of the Southern Governors’ Forum met in Asaba, Delta where they had met previously to deliberate on insecurity and sundry issues in their home states.
Reacting, Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, noted:
“We are in a country of law and the law has given governors the control of land in their states. The governor is the one who gives the Certificate of Occupancy to every individual and allows them to have full ownership of the land.
“We are convinced that very soon, the Federal Government will begin to have a rethink, knowing well that it is not legal for Mr. President to be the one to map out land in the states.â€
