A group of professionals in Enugu State, Uzo-Uwani Professionals Association (UZPA), has rejected state‘s plans to establish a cattle ranch for herders in Nimbo town.
The association spoke yesterday in a statement signed by chairman of UZPA, Chinedum Odenyi and Secretary, Chief Dan Asogwa.
Noting there is no reason for the project which the people have rejected, it called on the government to halt the proposed project in Uzo-Uwani Local Government.
The association, however, urged Governor Peter Mbah to implement the state police proposal, which President Bola Tinubu is mulling and secure forests and homesteads from marauders.
The statement reads: “The government, through Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aka Eze Aka, clarified the intention of government to implement Prohibition of Open Grazing Law of Enugu State through designation of specific areas of grazing, to discourage and enforce sanctions against open grazing.
“The government also intends to use the ranch to curb kidnapping, murder and rape in the council.
“Uzo-Uwani is one of the councils chosen for this initiative, the other two are Isi-Uzo and Oji River.
“We have heard from officials clarifying and justifying the proposal and the suitability of the location.
“We have reached out to Chairman of Uzo-Uwani, Chukwudi Nnadozie, who gave us insight into plans of the government.
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“The people of Nimbo, and Uzo-Uwani have risen in opposition to the proposal, reading a more sinister objective in the project and calling on government to stop exploration of the subject in Uzo-Uwani council.
“UZPA calls on the government to halt design and attempt to implement the ranch project in Uzo-Uwani Local Government”, it said.
“In view of that, and all things considered, the Peter Mbah administration is informed that Uzo-Uwani people reject the proposal and will not lend their support to any such design, as it debases our people and invokes the memory of inflicted sadism.
“We do not also see any serious economic reason for the project. To tackle the insecurity which our people are facing and for which we have consistently pleaded for help, the Mbah administration should be in the forefront of implementing the State Police proposal which President Tinubu is mulling and make haste to secure our forests and homesteads from the evil machinations of marauders and blood merchants”.