Yoruba elders, under the aegis of Coalition of Oduduwa Elders, has backed the move by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State to evict Fulani herdsmen from forests in the state.
The elders also warned the Presidency to stay away from matters as this has to do with the security of lives and properties of Ondo people.
The Yoruba Elders Coalition condemned the Presidency’s statement and cautioned the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu.
They accused the Federal Government of meddling in issues within the purview of state governors.
They told presidency that it can not dictate for governors how to run their states for safety of their people, insisting that the governor’s action is in order, and not in breach of existing law
The Yoruba elders further called on the Presidency to examine statements from Garba Shehu critically before releasing them to the public.
Following the high rate of criminalities which come in form of kidnappings, raping of women and killings allegedly committed by criminals hiding in forests across the state, Governor Akeredolu had given herdsmen a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the areas.
However, in a swift reaction, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria cried out over the governor’s directive leading to Shehu’s statement cautioning Akeredolu against the move, saying the herders cannot leave the forests for any reason.
This development drew the attention of the Yoruba elders who accused the federal government of abandoning its core responsibilities to meddle in issues within the purview of state governors.
The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr Tunde Aremu, and National Secretary, Barrister Mrs Folake Ajasin, respectively, asked the governor not to be distracted by actions of those who, according to them, have failed to safeguard the lives of Nigerians.
Regretting that the Ondo forests have become launching pads for herdsmen, the elders noted that the “herdsmen coming into the state are doing so not for grazing, but killing and destroying of properties.
They wondered whether the federal government expects the governor to fold hìs hands and watch the herdsmen commit these atrocities.
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