CAN Commends Gov. Ishaku for Signing the Open Grazing Prohibition Bill into Law
Taraba state Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has reiterated his administration’s determination to make Taraba state a beehive of commercial activities in the Northeast sub region and indeed the country.
Governor
CAN visits Governor Ishaku
Ishaku said this today when officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Taraba state Chapter paid him a courtesy visit in his office Government House Jalingo.
Darius Ishaku stated that the main objective of signing the Taraba State Open Grazing Prohibition and the Establishment of Ranches Law 2017, is aimed at bringing to an end the persistent rift between farmers and cattle rearers in the state.
He told the officials of CAN that when he was sworn in as the Governor of the state, the first appeal he made to the people of Taraba state was to give him peace, saying that with peace he will be able to contribute significantly to the development of the state.
The Governor maintained he had to initiate the Open Grazing Prohibition and the Establishment of Ranches law in the state as a measure of enhancing peace between farmers and grazers, saying that, initially most people were misinformed on the viability of the bill and he was called all sorts of names, but however said such misconception is now being gradually cleared and some grazers are now coming to terms with the law and are gradually understanding the importance of the law to the peaceful coexistence among Farmers and Grazers in the state.
Explaining further, Governor Darius Ishaku said he had on several occasions asked persons that are not in support of the Open Grazing Prohibition law to give him an alternative to the Prohibition law which will engender peaceful coexistence between farmers and grazers and equally promote socio economic activities in the state and pointed out that no one has been able to give him an alternative solution to the law.
Accordingly, Darius Ishaku disclosed to the leadership of CAN that he sent members of the Taraba State House of Assembly to Kenya to go and study how the Masai who are major cattle breeders in Kenya and who have been operating Ranches for decades and are successful in terms of meat, milk and above all, there is peace amongst farmers and grazers in the country and for it to be replicated here for our common good.
The Governor stressed that his desire for the state is to make sure that it becomes vibrant in the production of both milk and meat in the country, positing that the purpose of the domestication will not only help end the incessant crisis, but it will also reduce cattle rustling, snake bites and related harm associated with Open Grazing.
Speaking on the addition of courses in the Taraba State University, Governor Darius Ishaku said his ambition for the State University is to make it one of the best in the country, saying that wherever the graduands of the Taraba state University find themselves they will be able to beat their chest and be proud of their certificates in terms of standard and quality.
In his speech, the CAN Chairman, Rev. Dr. Ben Ube said they are in his office to commend him for signing into law the Taraba State Open Grazing Prohibition and the Establishment of Ranches law 2017, saying that it was a wonderful decision that is in the best interest of the state.
Rev. Dr. Ben Ube maintained that the law will reduce lots of conflicts in most communities in the state when it finally becomes operational.
The CAN leadership also appreciated Governor Darius Ishaku for being proactive in ending some of the recent crises that happened in some parts of the state particularly, that of Takum, Ussa and Sardauna local government areas and prayed against such unfortunate incidents and decreed that it not occur in the state again.
Rev. Dr. Ben Ube commended the Governor for working assiduously on increasing the number of courses in the Taraba State University, stressing that it will reduce the number of Taraba indigenes going to other Universities to seek for admission.
He stated that since he took over as the Governor, he has faced so many challenges, ranging from election cases, ethno religious crisis among others and added that the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Taraba has been interceding for him and for peace and development of the state and stressed that they will not relent in their prayers for him to be successful and to fulfill on his promises.
Similarly, Ben Ube praised him for stabilising the polity of the state and stated that God used late Danbaba Danfulani Suntai to change the fortunes of the state and remarked that the Association will also pray for him to be successful, disclosing that they have set aside day for prayer and fasting for successful burial of the former Governor.
The CAN Chairman posited that they are ready to work with him and also willing to undertake any assignment that the state government wishes the Association to carry out which is aimed at ushering in peace, progress and development of the state.