Governor Abiodun Meets Northern Counterparts Amid Ethnic Unrest In Ogun

As part of his relentless and decisive efforts to address the recent farmers-herders crisis in some parts of the state, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has met with four northern governors and other critical stakeholders.

As gathered by EKO HOT BLOG, the crucial meeting, which took place at the Oba’s Complex in Abeokuta, was also attended by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo.

The governors were Abubakar Bello (Niger); Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi); Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Abdulahi Ganduje (Kano).

The Yewa-axis of Ogun had recently become a hotbed of violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers which has led to loss of lives and properties.

On Thursday, Dapo Abiodun set up a special task force comprising top government officials, security agencies, and local vigilante groups to embark on a fact-finding mission to the area.

Governor Abiodun stated that the meeting became imperative because the violent clashes would assume a dangerous dimension.

He expressed displeasure and wondered why a set of people who used to be a formidable ally and enjoyed cordial relationship would become a vicious foe.

Governor Abiodun added that the government has taken aggressive and decisive step to stem the tide of violence and unrest, with a view to restoring peace and sanity to the store.

“I find it worrisome that farmers and herders who have been living for many years in our state and have continued to find joint solutions to their mutual challenges are suddenly at each other’s throats on account of sources of livelihood.

“We have noted that the misapprehensions had taken a violent dimension in the last couple of weeks with cases of arson, maiming, and killings in extreme instances.

“The question is: what could have turned issues that hitherto had easy and workable templates for resolutions to suddenly become seemingly intractable?” he pointed out.

Governor Abiodun insisted that the state could look the other way concerning a problem taking on an ethnic undertone.

“We have set up a fact-finding team headed by a special adviser to the governor who is a retired assistant inspector-general of police. We have deployed a special security task force comprising of the military, Nigerian police, Department of State Services, local vigilante groups, representatives of farmers, and representatives of other ethnic groups resident in our dear state.

“Already they are stationed in the hot spots of the conflict, and we are sending them technical and logistic support, including vehicles and communication equipment. Additional vehicles and communication gadgets have been procured and will be given out today after this event.

“Just on Monday, we held a Security Council meeting where this issue was extensively discussed, and thereafter we relocated to the hotspots of crisis for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation,” he explained.

The governor stressed that his administration’s priority was the safety of everyone’s lives and property irrespective of the circumstances of their birth, ethnic or religious leanings.

He said it had become evident from the interim report of the fact-finding team that “some elements are bent on setting our people against one another by whipping up ethnic sentiments.”

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