Your emotional attachment to herdsmen inimical to Nigeria’s existence, Akeredolu tells Buhari

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo State, has lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari for kicking against his vacation order to violent herdsmen residing in forests across the state.

On Monday, Mr Akeredolu issued a seven days ultimatum to herders to vacate forests in the state. He said the order became necessary due to testimonials from kidnap victims suggesting herdsmen as arrowheads of the criminal activities in the state.

But the president in a statement from his spokesman, Garba Shehu, cautioned state governors on linking insecurity to herdsmen, adding that the Ondo governor has no such power, a submission the Ondo information commissioner Donald Ojogo, finds disgusting.

“The Ondo State Government did not ask Fulani to leave the state. The governor said herdsmen who are unregistered should leave our forests,” Mr Ojogo clarified.

“The statement from Garba Shehu is a brazen display of emotional attachments and it’s very inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.

“We need clearly defined actions on the part of the Federal Government to decimate the erroneous impression that the inspiration of these criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen is that of power. Our unity is threatened, no doubt.

“It (statement) states in a breath that the governor fights crime with passion while it is prevaricating on the atrocities.

“The question is, are the herdsmen who are perpetrating murder, kidnapping, and robbery more important than government and even the Federal government in this case?

“Ethnic nationality and activism on the part of anyone hiding under the Presidency or federal government is an ill wind,” the commissioner added.