Insecurity: Shehu Sani counters Akeredolu over order to herdsmen

Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Central Senator, has faulted the quit notice issued to Fulani herdsmen by the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, saying the quit notice order was wrong.

Governor Akeredolu had issued an ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest reserves.

The Governor had said all unregistered herders should vacate the state’s forest reserves.

But the presidency had condemned the ultimatum issued by Akeredolu, with President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu calling for restraint.

In responses ,Akeredolu had also justified his actions describing the order as the one taking in the interest of all residents of the state regardless of their ethnic or religious groups.

Akeredolu also described as untrue that he ordered herdsmen to leave the state.

His Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said
“ 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. ”

However, the former lawmaker in a post on his Facebook wrote: “My Dear Governor Akeredolu, I’m quite aware of the security challenges facing your state. I appreciate your efforts, but it’s outrightly and completely wrong to ask all cattle herders to leave Ondo forests.

“The sins of a criminal few should not affect the law-abiding and peaceful ones who have the right to live and move freely in all parts of our country.

“Efforts must continue to be made to deal with those who breach the law,while and respecting and protecting the rights of the innocent.”