Igbo Elders’ Forum has slammed the S/East govs for delaying the passage of an anti-grazing law

The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum has criticized what it calls “tactical delay” or “outright reluctance” on the part of some states in the South East to pass the anti-open grazing law that southern governors agreed to pass.

The forum also warned that “recalcitrant” states should be held accountable for non-compliance and for “aborting the popular will and desire of our people,” according to a statement released Monday.

Chukwuemeka Ezeife (Okwadike), the forum’s chairman and former governor of Anambra State, and Prof Charles Nwekeaku, the forum’s secretary, signed the statement.

“While we applaud the states of Enugu and Abia for enacting anti-open grazing legislation, we urge the other states in the south, particularly those in the South East and other Igbo-speaking states of the South South, to put in place necessary machinery to comply with the southern governors’ resolution or risk aborting the popular will and desire of our people,” the forum said.

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The forum applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his recent visit to the South East and his surprise at the secessionist agitation in some parts of the region, saying it is a sign that his administration may reconsider its treatment of Ndigbo.

The forum urged dialogue as a means of resolving the South East crisis and condemned the militarization of the region, adding that restructuring was the best way to prevent the country from disintegrating.