The Ondo State Government on Wednesday restated its quit order to Fulani herdsman in the state, saying they must leave the state’s forest reserves as ordered by governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.
Ojogo spoke in response to a counter order issued late Tuesday by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the governor lacked the power to issue such an order.
“Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, a seasoned lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and indeed, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has fought crime in his state with passion and commitment, greater sensitivity and compassion for the four years he has run its affairs and, in our view, will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals,” Shehu said in his statement.
However, Ojogo alleged that President Buhari did not endorse the statement by the presidency, insisting that Shehu must explain why he has taken up the fight of criminal elements who masquerade as herdsmen.
“One thing is certain, President Muhammadu Buhari by his antecedents, by his nationalistic posture, and by his patriotism that he is known for, may not have directed that statement. I am almost persuaded to think that Garba Shehu didn’t issue that statement because that would have been a very dangerous one for the unity of this country. I am waiting to confirm and if it is true, then, he may have miscommunicated properly to the people of Nigeria.”
According to him, if it’s confirmed that Shehu made the statement, then, “it would mean that certain persons in the presidency, certain officials in the presidency are actually out to create a problem for President Muhammadu Buhari. We must appreciate the efforts of this president in his fight against insecurity across this country. Insecurity is becoming a national issue; no part of the country is insulated from the crisis”.
“If Garba Shehu indeed issued that statement, then, he owes the people of this country a great deal of explanation to let people know why he must take up the fight of criminal elements. I do not believe by his pedigree that he might want to offer himself as the spokesperson for people masquerading as herdsmen and committing crimes. I don’t want to believe he has offered himself as the spokesperson for criminal elements who are operating under herdsmen,” he added.
Akeredolu in his quit order noted that it was based on the statements by victims of kidnapping and intelligence reports by security agents.
Buttressing that points, Ogogo said that security agents have enough facts that victims of kidnappings in the state were being taken into the thick of the forest reserves by criminal elements who have infiltrated the ranks of the Fulani herdsmen who presently occupy portions of the forest reserves.
According to him, the Ondo state government was determined to clear the “mess”, hence, all herdsmen in the forest reserves must vacate the place before Monday, January 25, 2021.
He further clarified that the order was not for herdsmen to vacate all forests in the state but it was for them to vacate the forest reserves which are treasures of the state.
“Let us separate these two things: Government did not say all the Fulani herdsmen to leave Ondo State; that is not correct. Government has not come out to say that Fulani men should vacate all the forests of Ondo State. The attention is on the forest reserves. These forest reserves are monuments of the state and treasures of the people of the South-West right from time immemorial. They have been earmarked for beauty and bound diversities.
“Unfortunately, some of these criminal elements have gone to mingle with Fulani herdsmen who have occupied portions of these forest reserves as settlements. In any case, anytime victims are kidnapped, they take them into the thick and depth of the forest reserves and security agencies ha ve had enough evidence to show that these persons are taken into the forest. The government is trying to clear the mess by way of regulating the activities of herdsmen in the state,” the commissioner said.
