The leadership of Miyetti Allah, umbrella body of herdsmen in the country, is set to meet with Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo State, to plead for more time to comply with his decision to regulate herdsmen in the state.
Mr Akeredolu while citing insecurity traced to herdsmen residing in forest reserves, ordered the herders to either register with the state government or vacate the woodlands.
The meeting reportedly facilited by the presidency will also have state governors from the South-West geo-political zone present.
This was disclosed by a media aide of one of the state governors who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity in Akure, the state capital.
The aide who said his principal will be present at the meeting added that the presidency has admitted it wrongdoing while reacting to the 7-day ultimatum to herdsmen by the Ondo State government.
“The whole thing was about misconception. We all know the Presidency misinterpreted the Ondo State government’s directive. They took it to mean a total action which intended to clear the state if all herders,” the anonymous source said on Sunday.
“And while admitting that the spokesman to Mr President acted hastily and without proper authorization, they (Presidency) have reached out to other governors to facilitate a meeting where the leadership of Miyetti Allah would likely plead for time to comply with the directive.
“My principal is involved and very concerned too because this is a Yoruba matter and not a personal issue between Aketi and the herders.
“So we are coming to Akure for the meeting tomorrow at 12. We need to give the honour to our chairman, the governor of Ondo State who is even leading the fight against insecurity in the region,” the source added.
