Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, to provide lands to serve as grazing routes for herdsmen.
Soyinka described Buhari’s comments as ‘unfortunate’, adding that the manner the Federal Government was handling agitations across Nigeria showed that it was not ready to listen to the people.
He stated this during an interview on Arise TV on Monday.
Soyinka said, “Also, the language used by Buhari in responding to agitation for secession is very unfortunate. Any sensitive leader must understand and respond to the reasons behind those agitations, not to start to threaten, bully or intimidate people.
“For instance, Southern governors say on behalf of our people, we do not want open grazing anymore.
“Then somebody who sits in Aso Rock says he will instruct his Attorney-General to dig up some kind of colonial law so he can recover on behalf of a certain private business the old route.
“That is an indication that he is not listening to what governors and the people they represent are saying.”
Recall that President Buhari had last week backed the return of cattle grazing paths, allowing herdsmen trail designated routes across the country.
Despite Buhari’s acceptance, the State governors from the Southern part of Nigeria have expressed their displeasure with open grazing.