PDP’s Open Grazing Bill premature – Obaseki’s aide

The Edo State Government has described as premature, the Bill for a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock, sent to the Edo State House of Assembly by the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, commended the Edo PDP for heeding the counsel of the Edo State government to learn how to be a responsible opposition party that can contribute to the development of Edo State through well-researched policies and laws.

Osagie noted that while the new role of the Edo PDP is worth commending, the opposition party would require more schooling to fully appreciate that well-researched policies of the Obaseki-led government such as the ban on overnight grazing, the ban on armed herdsmen and the monitoring of herdsmen activities by the government and security personnel, cannot be changed when they are yielding positive results.

“It is interesting to see members of Edo PDP embrace our advice. However, their proposed bill for a law that will ban open grazing is a faulty start. Policies have clear timelines and set outcomes. Since February 8 when Governor Obaseki unveiled the new set of policies to end the clashes between herdsmen and farmers, there has not been any incident. This means that the policies show promise and no one changes a winning team. So on what basis is the Edo PDP proposing its bill?”

He maintained that while sending a bill to the House of Assembly is a civilised thing to do, rather than propagation of falsehood at a state-wide circus and making outrageous comments on issues of national security, the Edo PDP’s bill is impulsive.

“PDP should stop being overtly emotional about issues that require tact and research. They have started learning how to be responsible, but they need to learn more from our technocrat Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki,” Osagie said.

He added that the Edo PDP has over the years displayed its lack of capacity to solve the problems of the state and stressed that the opposition party has nothing to offer the state.

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