Gyang said, no portion of land within his constituency (Barkin Ladi and Riyom) should be gazetted or appended for such grazing plans because it goes against the wishes of his people.
This was contained in a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Chuwang Dungs and made available to journalists in Jos.
The statement cautioned the Plateau State government against taking actions which can plunge the State into crisis and conflict.
The lawmaker reiterated that several individuals and families have been ravaged by previous attacks; the victims are yet to be rehabilitated and wondered why these helpless victims will further be agonized with a policy that puts further suffering on them.
The statement averred that, “the main concern of the government at this time, should be seeking to provide justice for victims of the attacks, finding ways of rehabilitating them and exploring ways of fostering peace and harmony in the communities, as opposed to using political tools and instruments to further divide the people”.
“One issue that has of recent generated concern and heated debate in Nigeria is the decision by the Federal Government to create Grazing Reserves. This policy decision may have arisen out of the desire to seek a solution to the increasing spate of herdsmen insurgency that has devastated many farming communities across the nation.
He said, most of the States affected are, “the North Central States of Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States, with extension to some communities in Kaduna, Zamfara, Taraba, Ekiti, Enugu States among others.
Gyang further stated that for the grazing policy to have received the endorsement and consent of some Northern State Governors including Governor Simon Lalong, “One would have thought that given the far reaching implications of the Governor’s decision, he might have consulted thoroughly with critical stakeholders on the Plateau like the State House of Assembly, Plateau State Traditional Council among others”.
The lawmaker expressed fears that the contention over the policy decision of the Government on the issue is ominous given the devastation and violent attacks which host communities have suffered from herdsmen leading to displacement from their ancestral habitat.
”The Federal Government being aware that it has no Constitutional powers to administer land matters, has resorted to the powers vested on Governors under section 2 of the Land Use Act embedded in section 315 (5,d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by seeking the consent and approval of willing Governors to allocate land within their states for the implementation of the Grazing Reserves Policy”.
”My take on this matter as it relates to Plateau State especially the Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency which I represent –a constituency that is fast recovering from over a decade of violent attacks and a people whose lands are still under forceful occupation by herdsmen, is that the constituency or any part thereof, should not, ought not and cannot be within the contemplation of housing a Grazing Reserve”.
The statement further said, there is palpable fear among the indigenous people of Barkin Ladi/Riyom constituency that the grazing reserve policy is simply a ploy to legitimize their displacement and forceful occupation of their ancestral land and heritage by herdsmen.
The statement advised Government to instead of pushing for the creation of “Grazing Reserves”, adopt and implement the option of animal husbandry and Cattle Ranching as a viable alternative to economic activity for herdsmen.
He added that the aforementioned option is the much needed panacea against herdsmen insurgency that will engender lasting peace
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