Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei re-echo Gov. Diri position on open grazing, says Ijaw Nation against open grazing
by Passman Akpos
Ijaw advocate and coordinator of the Egbesu Brotherhood, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei has re-echoed the position of the Bayelsa state Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri against open grazing.
The Egbesu Apostle affirmed that Governor Diri was speaking for the entire Ijaw nation and not just Bayelsa state.
Governor, Douye Diri in a media chat on democracy day had said there were no cattle grazing routes in Bayelsa, explaining that his people are predominantly fishermen, adding that the idea of cattle grazing routes in Bayelsa is very strange to Ijaw people.
The Egbesu Apostle who reiterated the position of the Governor added that the decision of the prosperity administration in putting into place a legal framework to ban open grazing and movement of cattle on foot is a step to preserve the lives of many Ijaw people and avert futuristic blood shedding.
Apostle Bodmas added that Governor Diri’s position depicts him as a lover of peace and shown that he appreciates human lives and wants the best for not only Bayelsa, but Nigeria at large
” We are not blind to the carnage, butchery, unleashed by suspected herdsmen against innocent villagers in different parts of the country”
“The decision of the Bayelsa state Government to ban open grazing and movement of cattles on foot is conspicuously to avert looming crises and sustain Nigeria’s corporate existence”
” Governor Diri’s statement is the position of Ijaw Nation, cattle routes are alien to us, we are fishermen, farmers and hunters, it would be a disservice and invitation of anarchy to our land if we condone open grazing. Our villages, farms, streets, are not barn houses for cattles, the Ijaw tradition does not priotises animal lives over human lives, the Governor is therefore in order”. He said
” The federal government should applaud and support the Governor’s decision, he shouldn’t be villified and antagonized for working to sustain Nigeria’s unity, the decision is of immense benefits to our corporate existence, if only the Governors in the middle belt had been this bold, the blackmails and accusations against the Buhari-led government would have been avoided”
