OYC, a socio-cultural group led by Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, has cautioned Igbo legislators who are plotting and executing the plan of total open grazing law to withdraw the notion or face the wrath of furious Igbo youths from their various constituents if they do not do so immediately
As a result of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent instruction, the federal government is currently reviewing 368 grazing reserves throughout 25 states.
Igboland’s anti-open grazing bill must be passed promptly in Igboland to safeguard lives and property, OYC said.
the Igbo organization persuaded them to follow the example of their colleagues in Rivers State, who responded to popular demand by adopting anti-open grazing bill as a measure against open grazing
“The southeast governors led by David Umahi of Ebonyi State shouldn’t romance killer Fulani Herdsmen but should embrace this call, and remember that it was lack of leadership direction as regards insecurity in Igbo land that made pro-Biafrans to take laws into their hands-on self-defense, and the consequence of such action is still an untold story in the southeast,” the Ohanaeze youths said.
The group expressed displeasure over an alleged bribe paid by Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers to state legislators from the zone to drop the push for open grazing in the southeast.
Since 2016, over 500 people have been massacred by the feared Fulani herdsmen in southeast Nigeria, according to OYC, and no amount of money is worth risking the lives of Ndigbo.
Members of the State House of Assembly of southeast extraction were given a 30-day ultimatum by the apex Igbo youth group to pass the anti-open grazing bill into law, as failing to do so would imply that the whopping 5 billion naira was collected and spent.
“There will be an All-Igbo Youth Match to the House of Assembly members’ families to demonstrate civil disobedience from the people”, according to OYC’s statement. “When it comes to the size and scope of this action, it will dwarf the Aba Women’s mass resistance.”
“The South East House of Assembly members need to be aware of their actions, as well as the fact that they are living with the people of various communities in Igboland without any form of immunity or sophisticated security detail like the governors, so any attempt to take bribe and jettison the anti-open grazing Bill will be foolhardy that endangers not only their lives but also that
“South-East has become a land of blood spillage due to the incessant attacks of Fulani herdsmen. Enugu and Ebonyi states had the most victims of Fulani attacks, and our farmlands have been deserted to the point that famine will soon strike southeast.
Community youths of Igbo descent were also urged by OYC to rise now and reject any attempt by disgruntled State House of Assemblies members in the southeast to torpedo the anti-open grazing legislation.
