Akeredolu’s Order: Ondo Tackles Presidency, As Villa Defends Herdsmen

 

Ondo state government has queried the Presidency for defending herdsmen.

 

This comes after the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, faulted Ondo state government for ousting herdsmen out of the forests.

 

In the statement titled, ‘In tackling crime, Ondo State Government will not act outside the constitution,’ the Presidency also called on both sides to continue their dialogue

 

The statement reads partly, “Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, a seasoned lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and indeed, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has fought crime in his state with passion and commitment, greater sensitivity and compassion for the four years he has run its affairs and, in our view, will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals.

 

Reacting, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said the Presidency statement had stated “unambiguously, the position of the Federal Government.

 

“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.

 

Earlier, Ojogo had declared that there was no going back on its order asking herdsmen to vacate all the forest reserves in the state.[

 

Ojogo had said, “The governor’s directive except they are telling the world that Miyetti Allah is above every law in the land.

 

Meanwhile, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere, faulted the MACBAN’s statement, saying its members must obey the governor’s order.

 

The Secretary General of the Afenifere, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, pointed out that the governor’s order would go a long way in tackling insecurity in the state

 

He said, “The Miyetti Allah should not complain about the order, unless they want to give the impression that they support the criminal activities being carried out by some herdsmen in the state.

 

The Olowo of Owoland, Ondo State, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, also commended Akeredolu for the order.

 

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Owo monarch, Mr Sam Adewale, the traditional ruler said, “ As the Chief Security Officer of the state, the governor cannot fold his arms while the citizens are being kidnapped at will by bandits.”