Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has berated the presidency for its statement against his directive asking herdsmen to leave the state’s forest reserves.
Recall that Akeredolu had ordered herdsmen in the state to vacate the forest reserves within a period of seven days counting from Monday, 18th January.
But the presidency in a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s media assistant, Garba Shehu, rejected Akeredolu’s ultimatum to herdsmen.
However, the Ondo State Government has reacted to the presidency’s statement in a statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo.
He expressed that the Presidency statement had stated “unambiguously, the position of the Federal Government.
Also Read: Akeredolu Orders Herders To Vacate Ondo Forest Reserves
Ojogo said: “The Ondo State Government did not ask Fulani to leave the state. The governor said herdsmen who are unregistered should leave our forests. The statement from Garba Shehu is 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.”
