Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Wednesday, commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for signing into law the State’s anti-open grazing bill. The bill which has been a one of great concern around the country due to its sensitive nature, to prohibit open grazing, regulate cattle ranching, and for connected purposes, was recently passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly was signed into law on Tuesday at the government house, Enugu.           

In a press statement made by the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he described the governor as a shining example and said that, “we have always said that governance is not about making noise but has a lot to do with action. Governor Ugwuanyi is a man that talks less in the media but does so much for the people”.

 “While governors are playing politics with the issue of open grazing, he has again demonstrated that he is a man of the people. He has written his name in gold and posterity will reward him for this.

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“When it mattered most, he shoved politics aside and rose in defense of the lives and properties of Enugu people. He is now a mirror, a shining light in Igboland.

“We the millions of Igbo youths salute his rare courage and we assure him of our continuous support. He should remain unshakeable in his move towards the protection of our people. He has shown himself to be a man we can trust with power at any level.”

Okwu however, stated that the group is not pleased with other states in the southeast which they accused of playing politics to the open-grazing ban stating that apart from Enugu, no other state in the South-East has passed into law the anti-open grazing bill since the Southern Governors held a meeting where they announced a total ban on open rearing of cattle.

 “This is unacceptable, and we have said before that should anything happen to any Igbo community, those governors would be held accountable. They cannot sacrifice the lives of our people on the altar of politics,” Okwu warned.

Okwu further called on who will be meeting on Thursday in Enugu, to persuade their members to also indulge in the ban.  

“We heartily welcome them to Enugu, a very peaceful State and urge them to ensure that resolutions they make during these meetings are implemented by all the member-states,” Okwu concluded.