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Your ‘Destructive’ Remarks Could Start A War, Akeredolu Tells Bauchi Gov

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, has cautioned his Bauchi state counterpart, Bala Mohammed, to refrain from making inflammatory and seditious utterances that could tear Nigeria apart.

Ekohotblog had reported how Akeredolu in January issued evacuation order to Fulani herdsmen inhabiting Ondo forest.

He had said the quit notice became imperative in view of the rising insecurity in the state, adding that “bad elements” had turned the forest reserves into hideouts for perpetration of all manner of and nefarious and criminal activities.

The development was greeted with divergent views, with Mohammed saying Akeredolu lacked the right to issue a quit notice to the herders in the state.

“Land is in the hands of the state and federal governments in trust but Nigerians don’t need the permission of governors or the federal government to settle everywhere,” Mohammed had said on Friday.

“You don’t need the permission of the governor of Bauchi or the governor of Ondo to be in the forests of Ondo if you choose to live in the forests because under Section 41 of the constitution, you are free to settle anywhere.”

He also doubled down on his justification for arm-bearing herdsmen, saying they need the weapons for protection against the dangers they encounter in the course of their pastoral endeavours.

But reacting in a statement by Olabode Olatunde, his special assistant on new media, Akeredolu said Mohammed comments are provoking and insensitive and not helping to national integration

He admonished him not to set the country on fire with his “highly destructive” thoughts, calling on Nigerians to ignore Mohammed’s comments and focus on how to unify the country.

“The position of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is not to engage or confront anyone who has the mindset of a crisis entrepreneur or war monger,” the statement read in part.

“Very provoking and insensitive as the statement appears, we can only err on the side of caution by advising Governor Bala Mohammed not set Nigeria on fire by his thoughts that are highly destructive and undermining national cohesion.

“Nigerians should ignore him and rather focus on those issues that can bring about peace and engender unity.”