Consideration for the nation’s economy was prioritised as a former governor of Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu alongside other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West met in Lagos Sunday.
They unanimously rejected calls for the division of Nigeria and have called for ethnic and religious unity.
At the meeting, attended by South-West APC governors, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Bisi Akande, amongst others, the leaders expressed deep commitment to the unity of the country, adding that secession won’t be in the best interest of the country.
They also expressed support for the ban on open grazing in Southern Nigeria.
The leaders commiserated with the President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, the military authorities, families of the Chief of Army Staff and other officers who died, and indeed the entire nation over last Friday’s tragic plane crash in Kaduna.
They further expressed strong opposition to separatist agitations and hate speeches. While urging those indulging in such to desist forthwith, they renewed their belief in the unity, stability and sustainability of the country.
A communiqué issued after the meeting read in part: “We endorse the position of the Southern Governors taken at their May 11, 2021 summit in Asaba, Delta State, regarding ranching. We do so because such a decision will lessen tensions between farmers and herders while also helping the long-term economic viability of both the farming and herding communities. We are mindful of the short-term dislocation this might cause but are also mindful that this position is in the best interests of all parties concerned.
“We, therefore, recommend that the federal and state governments cooperate fully with each other to enact the necessary measures to encourage this more effective and modern method of cattle-rearing so that both farmers and herders can pursue their livelihoods with greater productivity and in a more cooperative relationship that minimises the friction between these two important pillars of our agricultural economy.”
