Freedom of movement does not extend to cattle, Atedo Peterside tackles Malami

By our reporter| The founder of Stanbic IBTC and Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside has described as ‘disengenous’ the attempt by the minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami to link the resolution to ban open grazing in the south with right to free movement of persons.

Malami had on Wednesday equated the ban open grazing by southern governors, as the same as prohibiting the sale of spare parts trading in the north.

“It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?” Malami said.

“For example: it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the north. Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the north?”

But responding to Malami’s comment on Thursday in a Tweet via his verified Twitter handle, said freedom of movement of persons does not extend to cattle.

He tweeted, “It is disingenuous to link a ban on open grazing to the constitutional right to the free movement of persons.”

“The latter does not extend to the free movement of cattle, goats, sheep etc through farms with the attendant destruction of somebody’s harvest.”