Herdsmen Vacation: NGF Endorses Akeredolu’s Quit Notice

Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) has declared its support for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu's vacation orders given to Fulani herdsmen occupying Ondo State forest reserves. The NGF maintains that the order is not meant to cause an ethnic crisis but to prevent crime.

The NGF clarified that governor Akeredolu did not send Fulani herdsmen away from the state but only asked them to leave the government’s farm settlements and, also, register for proper identification.

The Chairman of the NGF, Kayode Fayemi who made this known after a meeting held with the leadership of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Akure, Ondo State on Monday said the governor was misconstrued by the media.

Fayemi, who is also the Governor of Ekiti State said the meeting was called to resolve the issue of insecurity in the South-West and to ensure peaceful coexistence among the people of the region and those from other tribes living there.

He noted that Akeredolu had nothing against Fulani herdsmen who abide by the laws of the state, “Many members of MACBAN were born in the South-West. So, Akeredolu cannot ask Fulani to vacate Ondo State. The area concerned is the forest reserves and it is about registration and also to work in line with the law.

“What we are after is the criminals, not Fulani herdsmen, criminals are criminals, irrespective of their ethnic group,” Fayemi said.

Fayemi affirms that the statement generated a lot of controversies which eventually led to what he described as unfortunate development in Oyo State.

“The security and welfare of the people of Nigeria are the primary purposes of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“Insecurity is a national challenge and not peculiar to any tribe or region, but must be addressed by the cooperation of all. The order of the Ondo State governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media. He only ordered those occupying the forest reserves in Ondo State illegally to quit.

“Criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter their origin, class or status. Security agencies have been trying to stem the tide of criminality in the country, but must step up their efforts in the fight.

“There is the need to build a partnership for peace and security with MACBAN and jointly wage war against criminality. No one had sent anyone away from any state or region, but all hands must be on deck to fight crime.”

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In his remarks, the National President of MACBAN, Muhammadu Kirowa, said his members are peaceful and democratic.

Represented by the National Secretary of the association, Baba Uthman Ngelzama, the Miyetti Allah leader sued for peace and stressed that dialogue is key to ensuring peaceful coexistence.

He noted that poor management of the relationship between herders and farmers led to clashes recently recorded in some parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said Nigerians owe the country’s security agencies “a debt of gratitude” for securing the country from terrorists.

This was just as government, the military and political leaders from the region have waded into the quit notice given to herders to leave the South West.

These were disclosed by the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in company with his Interior Ministry counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at a press conference,in Abuja, yesterday.

The government also reiterated that Nigeria’s security system has progressively improved on securing life and property of citizens since 2015, and that satellite and technology would soon be deployed to secure the country’s borders.

On the crises between herders and host communities in the South West, against the backdrop of what is happening in Oyo and Ondo states, Mohammed said: “There are challenges in the South West, but they are being taken care of. “Military and political leaders are on top of the situation. As we speak now, efforts are being made to contain this issue and other issues.

“I can tell you, today, that the armed forces, the police and other security and intelligence agencies are ramping up their efforts to enhance the security of life and property across the country, and the results are beginning to show.

“The successes being recorded by the security and intelligence agencies in fighting insecurity did not come cheap. They have come as a result of the unrelenting efforts and sacrifices of the gallant officers and men of the military as well as other security and intelligence agencies that conduct operations across the country.

“Even though some of the troops paid the supreme price in the course of the operations, the security and intelligence forces have consistently exhibited gallantry and resilience in the various operations. We owe them a debt of gratitude,” Mohammed said.

Asked if Nigeria is safer than it was before the All Progressives Congress government assumed power in 2015, the Information minister replied: “Yes, Nigeria is facing its security challenges, but it’s by far better than what we met.

“Prior to 2015, how many local governments in the entire North East could open their offices? How many of them could go to school?

“Today, we get used to good things and we forget the bad times. How many times did Boko Haram visit Abuja before 2015?”