A senior lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, has defended the quit order given to herders in Ondo forest by the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu,
The governor had asked all herdsmen and their cattle to leave the Ondo forest within seven days or face the wrath of the law.
Akeredolu argued that the measure was taken to tame rising insecurity in the state.
But the presidency in a statement asked the governor to rescind the order because it is a violation of the constitution which gives citizens the right to choose where they wish to reside. The statement was issued by senior special assistant to the president on media, Garba Shehu.
But Adegboruwa, speaking with PUNCH newspaper, argued that Akeredolu was legally right in making the order. Akeredolu is himself a senior lawyer.
Adegboruwa said: “I salute the courage of the governor. He displayed rare statesmanship and courage. I think it is a lesson for all governors to take hold of their territory and safeguard the lives and properties of people.
“While it is herdsmen in the south, it is foreigners in the north. All of us are suffering.
“I backed the governor 100 per cent because the constitution, in Section 14 (2), makes the security and welfare of the people the primary essence of governance. Any governor that cannot guarantee the lives and properties of the people does not deserve to be in office.
“The constitution that the presidency is referring to is being misconceived and misinterpreted. Section 43 which grants people the right to own properties anywhere in Nigeria, cannot be construed as taking other people’s properties.
“Your right to acquire properties is that you acquire according to law and follow due process. When you get to a forest, it rather belongs to an individual, a community, or government.
“So, if you want to come to occupy a forest as a stranger, you must obtain the consent of any of the owners. You are a trespasser and any of them can activate a process to forfeit your trespass. This is what the governor has done by giving notice.
“What the law requires is seven days to forfeit the occupation of a place occupied illegally. It is the presidency that is not conversant with the laws of our land, not Akeredolu.
“Section 44 of our constitution is against the compulsory takeover of lands. Let the presidency read the constitution properly. What the herders are doing is a forceful takeover of people’s land which is unconstitutional.”
