Grazing Reserve Bill, a Time Bomb - Sen Owie

No By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—FORMER Senate Chief Whip, Senator Rowland Owie, has described the proposed Grazing Reserves Bill as a time bomb in the country, warning that if passed by the National Assembly, it would create many other problems. Speaking to Vanguard yesterday, Senator Owie stressed that the bill which is tagged, National Grazing Reserve Commission Bill, portends grave danger for peace and unity of Nigeria, adding: “The bill has the potential of creating more tension and ultimately more violence. It is wasteful, self-serving, retrogressive, discriminatory and deceitful.” Noting that the bill must not be passed, Owie asked the House of Representatives to push it to the northern state governors to push it through their state Houses of Assembly as an executive bill from them. He said: “The grazing reserve bill must not be passed. It is a time bomb. If it becomes law, Nigeria will be no more a nation  within 10 years. It is a dangerous bill. I advise Sunday  Karimi from Kogi State and Sadiq Ibrahim from Adamawa State, to pass the bill to the northern governors to make it executive bill to their state Houses of Assembly to create grazing land in their respective states, period. I call on well meaning Nigerians to rise against the bill.” The Senate, had denied that the National Grazing Bill was in its possession, saying so far, the bill which seeks to apportion certain geographical landmarks for grazing of cattle in each state of the federation, only featured during the 7th Assembly. It was gathered that the bill is pending before the House of Representatives.