Evacuation: Ignore Akeredolu’s Directive, Northern Elders Tell Herdsmen

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has described as provocative and helpful the Ondo state government order asking Fulani herdsmen to leave the state forest reserve.

In a statement on Wednesday, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a spokesman of the forum, said Rotimi Akeredolu, the state governor, does not have the power to unilaterally issue an order ejecting a person or a group of people from the state.

On Monday, Akeredolu gave herders a seven-day ultimatum to leave the forests, citing the rising insecurity in the state.

Ekohotblog reports that the governor said “bad elements” have turned the forest reserves into Hideouts.

In the statement on Wednesday, the forum enjoined the governor to rescind the evacuation order.

But Baba-Ahmed said Fulanis will not accept unfair treatment, challenging the governor to separate criminals and treat them as such.

He implored Fulanis in the state to stay in their respective above and co-exist peacefully with their host community.

“Northern Elders Forum is shocked at reports that Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is asking a Fulani community to leave its lawful location, in addition to other restrictions on activities of Fulani people who have lived in the State for a long period,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“Governor Akeredolu is a senior lawyer who should know that the constitution does not give him the power to deny any Nigerian the right to live where he chooses if he does not break the law in the process. His duty to protect and improve the security of citizens and all people in Ondo State cannot be challenged.

“No Nigerian has the power to take punitive action against citizens on political grounds. The forum believes that the action of the governor is provocative and unhelpful.

“If there are criminal elements among the Fulani who live in the state, the governor should take appropriate steps to identify them and deal with them. Similarly, the Fulani do not enjoy legal immunity in any part of Nigeria.

“The Fulani are subject to all laws and regulations and must respect the communities with which they live and interact. What is dangerous and unacceptable is to profile and demonize the Fulani and treat him outside the laws of the land like all other Nigerians.

“The Fulani community in Ondo state should stay put where they are and continue to be law-abiding.

“We call on Governor Akeredolu to rescind his order on the Fulani, or clarify his position in the event that he is misunderstood. For the avoidance of doubt, no Fulani anywhere in Nigeria will accept unfair and illegal treatment just for being Fulani.”