Don’t Set Nigeria On Fire, Akeredolu Tells Bauchi Governor

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has described the comment made by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed as “provocative and insensitive” for saying Nigerians don’t need Ondo State’s permission to live in the state’s forest reserves.

Akeredolu also warned the Bauchi governor not to set the country on fire with his “provocative and insensitive” rhetoric.

In his bid to sanitize Ondo forest of killer herdsmen accused on different crimes such as kidnappings, killings, rape and many others, Akeredolu ordered all herdsmen to vacate the state forest reserves or register with the state.

The order generated outrage with the presidency and some governors including Mohammed saying Akeredolu lacked the right to issue vacation orders to herders in the state.

READ ALSO: Akeredolu Condemns Bauchi Governor for Defending Herdsmen Carrying AK-47

On Friday, the Bauchi governor said, “Land is in the hands of the state and federal governments in trust but Nigerians don’t need the permission of governors or the federal government to settle everywhere. You don’t need the permission of the governor of Bauchi or the governor of Ondo to be in the forests of Ondo if you choose to live in the forests because under Section 41 of the constitution, you are free to settle anywhere,” the Bauchi State governor had said on Friday.

But in a statement through his Special Assistant on New Media, Olabode Olatunde, the Ondo governor called on Nigerians to disregard Mohammed’s comments.

The statement read in part, “The position of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is not to engage or confront anyone who has the mindset of a crisis entrepreneur or war monger. Very provoking and insensitive as the statement appears, we can only err on the side of caution by advising Governor Bala Mohammed not set Nigeria on fire by his thoughts that are highly destructive and undermining national cohesion.

“Nigerians should ignore him and rather focus on those issues that can bring about peace and engender unity.”

Akeredolu had also slammed Mohammed for defending herders carrying AK-47 rifles to herds.