Ondo: Afenifere Kicks As FG Opposes Eviction Of Herdsmen

• “Are Ondo Forest Reserves under Ondo state Government or FG and Miyetti Allah?”

• “All true-born Yoruba should stand behind Governor Akeredolu in these trying times”.

Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has blasted the federal government for the conspicuous preferential treatment given to President Muhammadu Buhari’s ethnic group, Fulani.

National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin in a statement on Wednesday, said Aso Rock’s intervention on behalf of the Fulanis in Ondo state is detrimental to the unity of Nigeria.

Odumakin said Buhari no long hide his bias against other ethnic group as the federal government was always quick to defend the interest of President  Fulani’s and place them over and above other ethnicities and tribe that make up the Nigerian state.

Ekohotblog had reported on Monday that Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, ordered herdsmen to immediately evacuate the state forest reserves.

Akeredolu’s decision to eject herdsmen from the forest was based on findings that herdsmen engaged in killings and kidnapping in the state were using the forests as hideout. The Governor also prohibits the movement of cattle within cities and highways.

But the presidency on Tuesday said the Ondo governor lacks the power to evacuate herdsmen from the forest.

Reacting to the development, Odumakin bemoaned the misinterpretation of the quit notice given to marauding herdsmen by the presidency and its spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

He noted that it was troubling that the governor’s directive could be misconstrue as sending the herders out of the state, saying the Aso Villa has “a serious problem with heating the rest of us when the issue involves its anointed Fulanis”.

He disclosed that Fulani criminals had unleashed devastating horror in the state and in other cities in the country, and only a reckless government like the federal government of Nigeria will continue to keep mum towards the situation in the country.

“Are Ondo Forest Reserves under Ondo state Government or FG and Miyetti Allah? We agree with the Ondo State Government that the insensibility of Garba Shehu violates the corporate existence of Nigeria”

The Yoruba group, however, questioned the effort made by the Buhari led-government to protect the lives of people, saying that the lives of Nigerians are regularly cut short by Fulani bandits without the government showing concern that the people’s life matters, “with its desire to shield the Fulani from the laws.”

“Nobody would ever have believed that it would get to this irresponsible stage that the federal government will one come to this barbaric level Garba Shehu has taken it and the peak of their direct salvos against Amotekun since it started.”

“All true-born Yoruba should stand behind Governor Akeredolu in these trying times”. “He must do all within the law to flush Ondo forests of all criminals. Other GOVERNORS should emulate their chair and free our land from the Fulanis who have surrounded us with the shield of the FG,” Odumakin opined.

Ondo government spokesperson, Donald Ojogo expressed displeasure at the presidency reaction. He accused President Buhari of being ’emotionally attached’ to herdsmen.