By Emma Ogbuehi
Tension continues to rise as the seven-day ultimatum issued by an Oodua Republic agitator, Sunday Igboho on the Fulani herdsmen to quit Yoruba land, takes wider dimensions, this time, pitting the apex Northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and its South West counterpart, Afenifere.
ACF had in the midst of the expulsion order, called on the Federal and State Governments in the South West to move quickly to avert a social upheaval that the directive may cause, warning that it may destabilize the whole country.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, ACF noted that the civil war in the 60’s started with attacks and counter-attacks akin to what is happening presently in the southwest. It demanded that those who carried out the attacks on the Fulani communities, including Sunday Igboho, who allegedly issued a quit notice to the Fulani in Oyo, must be apprehended and be made to face the full earth of the law. ACF warned that the attacks if not immediately stopped, may lead to counterattacks in the North.
But in a riposte, Afenifere, chided the ACF on the tone of its statement, describing it as very arrogant and insulting, especially the reference to the events of 1966. The group argued that it has gone to a great length to sue for peace and has appealed to its people to be law abiding, the Yoruba would not be threatened with war at this stage as its people will not provoke war but would never run for anybody on their land.
Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, observed that it is miffed that a body like ACF that has never shown any remorse over the killing of Yoruba people can make comments now because there are consequences for the irresponsible actions of its people.
The Afenifere statement reads: “The attention of Afenifere has been drawn to the hypocritical tears of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) over clashes in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo state occasioned by the inimical activities of Fulani herdsmen against indigenous Yoruba people.
“While we have gone to a great length to sue for peace and have appealed to our pained people to be law abiding even with the daily provocations of the Fulani and harassment of our people, we frown at the very arrogant and insulting ACF statement, especially their reference to the event of 1966.
“We must make it clear to them that they cannot threaten us with a war at this stage as we will not provoke war but never are we going to run for anybody on our land.
“We are miffed that a body like ACF that has never shown any remorse over the killing of our people can open their mouths anyhow now because there are consequences for the irresponsible actions of their people.
“We advise them to call their criminals to order and not expect our people to sheepishly wait to be killed by those who value cow lives more than human beings.
“We do not want a repeat of 1966 event but if there are people plotting such event again, the rain will be over their heads”.
Igboho had handed the quit notice on the Fulani following the reported cases of criminal activities in the South West by elements linked to herdsmen. The Inspector General of Police, has ordered the arrest of Igboho in the face of the impasse.
