Akeredolu replies Buhari over activities of herdsmen in Ondo

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday reacted to the statement of Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity over the restriction of herdsmen activities saying his action was in the interest of all residents of Ondo state including the herdsmen.

Reacting to the statement on Channels TV , the Ondo state commissioner for information and orientation, Donald Ojogo said “ One thing is certain. The President would not have directed that statement and i want to believe that Garba Shehu didn’t issue that statement that would have been a very dangerous one for the Unity of this country. ”

The Miyetti Alah Cattle breeders association couldn’t have done better than that statement.

I don’t want to belong to the category of people who believed that Garba Shehu actually issued that statement.

I am waiting to confirm and if it is true ,then he may have miscommunicated properly to the people of Nigeria.

And if he had issued that statement, it would mean that certain persons and officials in the presidency are actually out to create problem for president Mohammadu Buhari.

We must appreciate the efforts of the president on the fight against insecurity across the country.

Insecurity is a national issue and no part of the country is exempted. Now kidnapping and banditry are now becoming a pandemic so to say.

If actually Garba Shehu issued the statement,then he owes the nation explanation to let people know why he must take up the fight of criminal elements.

I do not believe that with his pedigree ,he might want to offer himself as spokesperson of the people masquerading as herdsmen and committing crimes.

Government did not say Fulani people should leave Ondo state. That is not correct. Those herdsmen who have occupied the forest reserves and in this case, the forest reserves are different from the natural forests. Government has not come out to say that Fulanis should vacate all the forests of Ondo state. The focus here is the forest reserves.

There are specific purposes that Forest Reserves were been earmarked. Thousands of hectares of land in the thick forest. Unfortunately, some of those criminal elements have gone to mingle with Fulani herdsmen who have occupied portions of these forest reserves and settlements. In any case, anytime victims are kidnapped, they took them into the depth of forest reserves, and security agencies have had enough evidence to show that victims are taken into the forests.

So what government is trying to do is to clear the mess by a way of regulating the activities of herdsmen and not only Fulani people are herdsmen. ”

The governor ( Akeredolu ) was explicit in his directive and was very apt in describing specific areas of target for this policy statement on forest reserves.

We must separate our natural forests where herdsmen graze at permissible times normally and our forest reserves which are conserved areas. What we are saying is that most of these areas have been converted to dens of kidnappers which we found very alarming .

This concern has been so heightened to the extent that each time victims who are lucky to be released come out and narrate their experience,there is a common narration in their stories. So what else do you want government to do ?

What we are saying as a government is that we are not just elected to provide water and roads, the basic objective for government and good governance is to be able to ensure that there is security of lives and properties. What Mr governor has done is not just in the interest of the people of Ondo state,is in the interest of all residents including the Hausa/ Fulanis community, the Ebira community and the Igbo Community.”