How political forces killed anti grazing bill

The Anti-Grazing Bill, also known as the "Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches Bill", was a proposed legislation in Nigeria that aimed to prohibit open grazing and establish ranches for cattle breeding. The bill was introduced in the Nigerian Senate in 2016 and was met with strong opposition from various political forces, leading to its eventual death.

Here are some of the political forces that contributed to the killing of the Anti-Grazing Bill:

1. Fulani Herdsmen Lobby: The Fulani herdsmen, who are the main beneficiaries of the open grazing system, lobbied heavily against the bill. They argued that the bill would lead to the loss of their livelihoods and would not address the root causes of the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen.
2. Northern Governors: The governors of the northern states, where the majority of the Fulani herdsmen are based, opposed the bill. They argued that the bill would lead to the displacement of their people and would not address the issue of land ownership and use.
3. APC Leadership: The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in Nigeria, was also opposed to the bill. The party's leadership argued that the bill was not necessary and would lead to the loss of jobs and livelihoods.
4. Fulani Elite: The Fulani elite, who are influential in Nigerian politics, also opposed the bill. They argued that the bill was discriminatory and would lead to the marginalization of the Fulani people.
5. Lack of Political Will: The Nigerian government, which is dominated by the APC, lacked the political will to pass the bill. The government was more interested in maintaining the status quo and avoiding controversy than in addressing the issue of open grazing and its consequences.
6. Divided Senate: The Nigerian Senate was divided on the issue, with some senators supporting the bill while others opposed it. The lack of a united front among senators made it difficult to pass the bill.
7. Lobbying by Interest Groups: Various interest groups, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), also opposed the bill. They argued that the bill would lead to the loss of jobs and would not address the issue of poverty and unemployment.
8. Fear of Political Backlash: The government and the APC leadership were also afraid of political backlash from the Fulani community and other northern states if the bill was passed. They feared that the bill would lead to violence and instability in the region.

In the end, the Anti-Grazing Bill was not passed by the Nigerian Senate, and the issue of open grazing and its consequences remains unresolved in Nigeria.