Herdsmen’s Eviction: Ondo Gov Condemns Presidency’s ‘Brazen Display Of Emotional Attachment,’ Says No Going Back

Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has said his directive that herdsmen occupying forest reserves in the state illegally should vacate within seven days will not be reversed despite the emotional response shown by the Presidency on the mater.

Due to the spate of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes being committed by criminals using the forest reserves as hideouts, Akeredolu on Monday gave unregistered herdsmen in the forest reserves to vacate the places within seven days.

He also banned night grazing; movement of cattle on the highways and using under age to graze cattle.

But the Presidency through a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said it would be wrong for the governor to unilaterally eject herdsmen from the state.

The Presidency said such could spark a chain of reactions which could cause crisis all over the country.

The statement said the constitution permits Nigerians to live in any part of the country they choose to live, saying Akeredolu who is a senior lawyer should know better.

However, reacting to Presidency’s statement, Akeredolu said there was no going back on the ultimatum that herdsmen should vacate the forest reserves in the state.

The governor said this through the Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, on Tuesday.

Ojogo had said, “The governor’s directive stands except they are telling the world that Miyetti Allah is above every law in the land.”

The commissioner later issued a statement where he said further that the Presidency statement was a brazen display of emotions which he said was inimical to the existence of Nigeria.

The statement partly read, “The Ondo State Government did not ask Fulani to leave the state. The governor said herdsmen who are unregistered should leave our forests. The statement from Garba Shehu is brazen display of emotional attachments and it’s very inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.

” We need clearly defined actions on the part of the Federal Government to decimate the erroneous impression that the inspiration of these criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen is that of power. Our unity is threatened, no doubt.

“It ( Presidency statement) states in a breath that the governor fights crime with passion while it is prevaricating on the atrocities. The question is, are the herdsmen who are perpetrating murder, kidnapping and robbery more important than government and even the Federal Government in this case? Ethnic nationality and activism on the part of anyone hiding under the Presidency or Federal Government is an ill wind.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matter,  Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, also asked those operating inside the forest reserves to register with the state government if they wanted to remain there.

Dojumo said, “I want to advise those operating within the forest legally to register with the state government. The truth is that if they (herdsmen) still want to remain in the forest; let them come and register, we want to know the people occupying our forest.”