As Presidency Frowns At Governor’s Ultimatum
From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Wednesday, criticized the presidency over its response to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s 7 days ultimatum issued to herders to vacate forest reserves in the State.
In a press release by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, the group expressed its displeasure over the reaction by the presidency, saying Akeredolu has the right to protect the people of Ondo State.
Recall The New Diplomat had on Monday, 18 January reported that Governor Akeredolu ordered herdsmen in Ondo state to immediately vacate all Forest Reserves within seven days over high rate of insecurity in the state.
Akeredolu further said:, “as the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State.”
In his words, he said “These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen.”
“These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities” he said.
He also placed a ban on night grazing and movement of cattle within the cities.
Reacting to Akeredolu’s order, the Presidency through President Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu urged Akeredolu and the herdsmen to continue their dialogue “for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state.”
“We need to delink terrorism and crimes from ethnicity, geographical origins and religion—to isolate the criminals who use this interchange of arguments to hinder law enforcement efforts as the only way to deal effectively with them”, the statement read.
The presidency, while decrying the governor’s action, called for caution, asking both the state government and the herders to dialogue with a view to addressing the security challenges facing the state.
The statement, entitled: “In tackling crime, Ondo State will not act outside the constitution,” faulted Akeredolu’s quit notice to the herders.
Responding to the statement by the presidency, Afenifere reiterated that the herders have caused untold hardships in Ondo State and other Yoruba towns and cities in recent time.
”The intervention by what we mistakenly call the Federal Government of Nigeria on behalf of marauding Fulani in Ondo state against the lawful government in that state did not come to Afenifere as a surprise as it is in line with non – pretence by this regime that it represents only Fulani interests against those of Yoruba, Igbo, Junkun, Ijaw and other tribes in Nigeria.” the statement read.
In addition, Afenifere further lamented the loss of lives and properties to bandits in the region.
“What has this government done to assure our people that it can protect our lives?
“With the open murders of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, The Olufon of Ifon and the Deputy Registrar of FUTA among many others” he said.
Afenifere also called on people in the region and other southwest Governors to support Governor Akeredolu in putting an end to security problems in the state.
