Herdsmen Ban: Garba Shehu Should Explain Why He’s Fighting For Criminals – Ondo

Ondo State Government has declared that certain officials in the Presidency are actually out to create a problem for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, stated this while reacting to the statement issued by the Presidency against  an order given by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu that herdsmen should vacate the forest reserves in Ondo.

KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Akeredolu had given herdsmen seven days ultimatum to vacate all forest reserves due to the high rate of insecurity in the state.

Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday, Senior Special Assistant to the president, Garba Shehu faulted the quit notice given by the governor.

Shehu stated that Governor Akeredolu cannot tell herders to leave Ondo forest because the directive was unconstitutional.

However, during an interview on Channels TV, Ondo government said Garba Shehu should explain to Nigerians why he is taking up the fight of criminals masquerading as herdsmen to commit crimes.

“One thing is certain, President Muhammad Buhari, by his antecedent, nationalistic posture and the patriotism he is known for, may not have ordered that statement,” Ojogo said.

Ojogo expressed doubt that Shehu issued the said statement “because it would have been a dangerous one for the unity of this country.”

“If true,” Ojogo said, “it would mean certain officials in the Presidency are actually out to create a problem for President Buhari. We must appreciate the effort of this President in his fight against insecurity across the country.

“If indeed he (Shehu) issued the statement, then Garba Shehu owes this nation a great deal of explanation to let people know why he must take up the fight of people masquerading as herdsmen to commit a crime.

“Ondo State government did not say herdsmen or the Fulani people should leave the state. That is not correct. It is those herdsmen who have occupied the forest reserves.

“These forests reserves are monuments and treasures of the people of the South-West. They have been earmarked for beauty and biodiversity; thousands of hectares of land.

“Some of these criminals elements have gone to mingle with the Fulani herdsmen who have occupied portions of these forest reserves as settlements.

“In any case, kidnap victims are taken into the deep forest reserves. And security agencies have enough evidence that these victims are taken there. So the government is trying to clear the mess by way of regulating the activities of herdsmen.

“And we should also know that it is not only Fulani people that are herdsmen. So I would be surprised if Miyetti Allah wants to appropriate the burden of criminality.”

On how to distinguish between criminal elements and peaceful dwellers, he said: “The governor’s directive is focused on forest reserves and not all forests, which would have been preposterous and ambiguous. But the governor was explicit and apt.

“These reserves have been converted to dens of kidnapping. In the narratives of kidnap victims lucky to regain freedom is this common trajectory. So what do you expect the government to do?

“The government was not elected to provide road and water only. The basic objective of the government and good governance is the security of lives and properties.

“This directive is not just in the interest of the people of Ondo State alone, but also in the interest of all residents including the Fulani. So it will be very suspicious if a particular ethnic group or some elements decide to appropriate this.”

He insisted that “This directive is directed at criminals hiding under herdsmen who are doing their legitimate business. And if these herdsmen who are doing their legitimate business are unable to weed out the criminals, it means something is wrong somewhere.”

Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has reacted to the quit notice, saying that Ondo government should provide an alternative for the herders to graze.