By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Some Yoruba elders have drummed support for the directive of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, asking herdsmen to leave the state government forest reserves.
The elders also lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidency over the statement cautioning the governor against his directive, accusing the presidency of undue meddlesomeness in issues within the purview of the state.
The governor, in the directive, also banned under-aged grazing, night grazing, movement of cattle within the cities and highways.
Akeredolu had given the herdsmen seven days ultimatum to comply with the order.
But in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President called for restraint on the side of the state government and the Fulani communities.
However, the statement by the Presidency has drawn the attention of some Yoruba elders who accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of abandoning its core responsibilities to meddle in issues within the purview of state governors.
The elders, under the aegis of Coalition of Oduduwa Elders, warned the Presidency to steer clear of governance issues in Ondo State or any other state in the country, saying the governor’s action was in protecting the lives of Ondo citizens.
They noted that the federal government which has exclusive control of conventional security architecture in the country, had failed to protect the people.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Dr Tunde Aremu, and National Secretary, Mrs Folake Ajasin, the elders asked the governor not to be distracted by actions of those they said have failed to safeguard the lives of Nigerians but to be firm and decisive in his actions aimed at giving Ondo people safety.
Regretting that Ondo forests have become launching pads for herdsmen, the elders alleged that the “herdsmen coming into the state are doing so not for the purpose of grazing, but killing and destroying property.
“We, the Yoruba elders under this noble umbrella body known as Coalition of Oduduwa Elders have watched with great concerns the turn of events in the South West, especially in Ondo culminating in the notice to herders to quit forests by Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
“We have equally painstakingly watched the rushed statement by the Presidency through one of its spokesmen, Mallam Garba Shehu, cautioning the governor against his action and instead, declaring that the people who have been identified to be responsible for kidnappings, banditry and killings in the state cannot vacate the areas they use to carry out their nefarious activities.
“This is strange to us given that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested certain powers on state governors as chief security officers of their respective states on certain steps they can take to safeguard the lives of citizens and their property. Akeredolu, to the best of our knowledge is a sitting governor of Ondo State. Until he is out of office, he has the constitutional mandate to device the best ways possible in giving his people who voted him into office good and quality leadership.
“The quit notice to herders to leave Ondo forests is one of those steps he has taken to protect the citizenry. So, we ask the Presidency to leave him alone.”
