He added that Osun already had a working committee on peaceful coexistence which had been instrumental to the amicable settlement of several cases in recent past.

Speaking in Ondo at a security meeting with the Governors of  Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Kebbi and Jigawa states, and the leadership of Miyetti Allah  Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, and heads of security agencies, Oyetola stated that a regular engagement with other people groups at community and government level could help reduce violence in the states of the country.

According to him: “We must take a common and workable position that will rein in criminals and ensure peace in our nation.

“Constant interaction with herders, artisanal miners and other strangers at the community and government levels will help mitigate violence in our respective states and region.

“In Osun, for instance,  we have in place a committee on peaceful coexistence between Fulani/Bororo and crop farmers, etc. With the help of the committee, we have been able to resolve several cases amicably. I recommend this initiative to other state governments.

“We all have a duty to promote and ensure a united and stronger Nigeria,” Oyetola stated.

Meanwhile, the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, has directed Fulani Herders across the Southwest to put an end to both night grazing and underaged herding with immediate effect.

Kiruwa also warned herders to desist from taking their cows to people’s farms for grazing, adding that the frequents farmers/herders clash must be brought to an end.

Speaking during the security meeting in Ondo, Kiruwa said the order given by Governor Akeredolu was not new but had been issued two years ago, adding that those who wished to remain in the government forest reserve should get registered.

While stressing that MACBAN was a peaceful association that valued peace and condemned criminalities in any form, the president said MACBAN would continue to work with security agencies to fish out criminals.

MACBAN also declared its readiness to cooperate with states on any peaceful moves to engender security and agreed to embrace modern breeding process by creating grazing reserves and practise ranching to prevent cattle roaming.

The post Oyetola: How governors can ensure peaceful co-existence in Nigeria  appeared first on Frontpageng.

Igboho who spoke against the backdrop of the alleged order from the Presidency to have him arrested over the campaign against Fulani killer herdsmen in the South-West of Nigeria, said the support from Yoruba leaders had been overwhelming.

In the short video, Igboho, sporting a blue t-shirt and surrounded by some of his admirers spoke in Yoruba.

He said leaders of Yoruba nation had warned Buhari against arresting him.

According to him, the warning was not an empty one.

Igboho listed some of the Yoruba leaders that had spoken up over the matter as including Professor Wole Soyinka, Ooni of Ife, Ataoja of Osogbo, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former governor of Oyo State, Alao Akala, and former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.

Igboho warned his supporters not to be disrespectful to Yoruba leaders, saying they were also not pleased with the state of insecurity.

According to him, they had all spoken up and given necessary support.

The post Igboho speaks: They dare not arrest me, Yoruba leaders have ‘spoken up’ appeared first on Frontpageng.

This is as the group also offered to assist Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in enforcing the deadline issued herdsmen to vacate forest reserves in Ondo State.

Otunba Wasiu Afolabi (alias “Askari”), Deputy President to the Late OPC founder, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, made the warning at the weekend in a statement following an emergency meeting of OPC leaders at the Century Hotel, Okota, Lagos.

Pointing out that no Southerner would dare go to the North and carry out killing, kidnapping and banditry that Fulani criminals had unleashed on Southern communities and highways, OPC issued a stern warning.

“ACF is threatening reprisals instead of telling its prodigal sons to halt their criminality. ACF should know that nobody has a monopoly over violence,” said the Yoruba socio-cultural group.

“Although the millions of law-abiding Fulani men and women living in our midst have absolutely no cause for alarm, those Fulani criminals hiding under the cloak of being herdsmen to perpetrate evil against law-abiding citizens should know their time is up. Henceforth, it will be fire for fire.”

Afolabi expressed his group’s backing for the pronouncement issued by the Ondo State governor that herdsmen should leave forests for open areas by Monday.

In the words of Afolabi: “We are fully prepared to help enforce Governor Akeredolu’s quit notice in Ondo State at the expiration of the two-week deadline. Anybody found in the jungle will be regarded as a kidnapper and bandit and will be appropriately dealt with. We Yoruba shall rise up to defend our land from foreign marauders who daily rape our women, kill our farmers and kidnap Nigerian citizens. Enough is enough.”

OPC also described the manhunt launched by the police for the Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Igboho, as misguided and provocative.

“The government must guarantee the life of Sunday Igboho. Rather than declare Sunday Adeyemo an outlaw, the federal government’s security agencies should turn their attention against criminal elements engaging in kidnappings and killings in the South,” the OPC deputy president said.

Similarly, according to Afolabi, the Presidency’s opposition to Akeredolu’s order was divisive, provocative and ill-advised, as well as an insult to the country’s federalism and the separation of powers principle of the constitution.

“In this federation, one level of government will be overstepping its bounds by dictating to another level of government. The evil of kidnapping and killing being perpetrated by Nigerian Fulani and their foreign cousins can no longer be tolerated. This kids-glove treatment was how authorities encouraged Boko Haram to transform into a full-blown terrorist organisation that has made the North-East the most dangerous place to live in the world,” Afolabi said.

“Therefore, in line with His Excellency’s directive as the Chief Security Officer of Ondo State, herdsmen, tourists and farmers alike must vacate forest reserves to enable security agents and vigilantes move in to smoke kidnappers out of their hiding places and restore sanity to the backwoods.”

Urging all Yoruba to speak with one voice against the rising insecurity in their land, OPC said the race currently faced an existential threat to its survival as foreign criminals had turned highways, forests and farms into danger zones while the Buhari government turned a blind eye.

“We cannot fold our arms and wait to be wiped out of our fatherland by foreign elements. The Yoruba are peace-loving people with a great reputation for extending hospitality to visitors in order to produce mutually-beneficial advantages. But what we see today are invaders, murderers and parasites committed to snuffing the life out of their hosts. We can no longer tolerate them and we must reclaim not only our land but our peace from these children of Satan,” he said.

According to OPC, the imbalance in the country’s security architecture had always raised suspicion, and the government’s apathy to the rising menace in the South showed that authorities felt nothing about the daily murder and plundering of Nigerians.

OPC said: “Time has come for all Nigerians, especially the National Assembly, to compel the president to alter the security architecture to conform to the Federal Character principle of the Nigerian Constitution he swore to uphold. What obtains now is lopsided in favour of a section of the country and this is dangerous.”

The post Ibarapa: OPC talks tough, warns FG, northern leaders over killer herdsmen appeared first on Frontpageng.

The clashes followed the notice to quit given by a Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, over alleged attack on the indigenes by herdsmen.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC called for dialogue in resolving the matter which it described as fragile.

The statement reads in part:

“The Igangan incident must be condemned by all lovers of peace. But at the same time, we cannot close our eyes to the pain and suffering of farmers and indigenes of the area whom criminals see as soft targets for kidnapping, armed robbery, etc. It is however crystal clear that it is not a religious matter, though some have been misled into labeling it an Hausa-Fulani affair. Our focus must be the criminals, not any tribe.

“While we do not endorse violence, we opine that people whose farms have been destroyed have the right to express indignation. In the same manner, those whose relations or friends have fallen victims to criminal activities like kidnapping and armed robbery are justified to speak up. The only difference here is that no single tribe should be held responsible for all the crimes.

“This is because criminals abound in all faiths and tribes everywhere in the world, not only in Nigeria. We should therefore address crime and criminals. We should target kidnappers and armed robbers, not any particular ethnicity. Those who make the mistake of profiling people of certain tribes will end up hurting decent elements within that tribe and this is against the law of natural justice.

“With particular reference to the Oyo and Ondo State incidents and the quit notices, MURIC reminds people of the South West that the crisis cuts across ethnicities. The same herdsmen are involved in several states. Benue, Kaduna, Adamawa, Taraba, Enugu, Onitsha, PortHarcourt, etc, are facing the same problem of herdsmen versus farmers. In essence, the phenomenon is general and not targeted at the Yoruba per se.

“Almost all the northern states face the herdsmen versus farmers conflict, banditry and kidnapping. People of the South West must consider the fate of thousands of their kinsmen from Ogbomosho, Offa, Iwo, Ibadan, etc who have resided in the North for more than a hundred years before insisting on a general expulsion of Northerners.

“Truth is bitter, but the earlier we say it the better. Herdsmen have no right to destroy crops. This is where people have genuine grievances against herdsmen. But indigenes should not label all herdsmen as kidnappers because there are law abiding citizens among them. Yet the most disturbing thing is that many of the criminals are foreigners. Our suggestion is that it is these criminals and foreigners that the security agencies (including Amotekun) should go after.

“Instead of applying the big stick, MURIC advises the Federal Government to consult widely with elders from all the states of the federation concerning the issue of herdsmen versus farmers with a view to finding a comprehensive solution. FG should also seek advice from other African countries where the same crisis has been on the front burner at one time or the other since this conflict is not restricted to Nigeria alone. It is national, continental and universal in dimension.

“To douse tension immediately, both FG and the Oyo State government should undertake to speedily and adequately compensate victims of the latest conflict in Igangan, Oyo State. FG in particular should take greater responsibility because it is the nationwide lacuna in security matters that has been responsible for the breakdown in law and order.

“Instead of issuing threats and counter-threats, we appeal to the various ethnicities in the country to understand the nature of the conflict. Herders and farmers crisis is not a Nigerian problem alone, it is universal. Nigeria needs to seek an enduring panacea to its own peculiar problems instead of aggravating the conflict. We must learn from the war in Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, etc and the attendant humanitarian disasters. This is still avoidable in Nigeria.

“MURIC’s avowed motto is ‘Dialogue, Not Violence’. We therefore advocate wide scale dialogue in the present circumstances. MURIC advises the FG to apply caution in handling the fragile situation. FG should take responsibility, compensate victims of the attack in Oyo State and engage all stakeholders in dialogue. We call on governors in affected states to consult traditional rulers on the best solution to the crisis. All forms of confrontation and muscle-flexing should stop in the interest of peace.”

The post Ibarapa: MURIC warns FG over Fulani herdsmen, Yoruba clashes appeared first on Frontpageng.

The warning was issued on Saturday by the group in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin.

Describing the activities of Fulani herdsmen against indigenous Yoruba people as inimical, Afenifere said much as the Yoruba would not provoke war, it would not run for anybody on its land.

The statement reads: “The attention of Afenifere has been drawn to the hypocritical tears of Arewa Consultative Forum over clashes in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State occasioned by the inimical activities of Fulani herdsmen against indigenous Yoruba people.

“While we have gone to a great length to sue for peace and have appealed to our pained people to be law-abiding even with the daily provocations of the Fulani and harassment of our people, we frown at the very arrogant and insulting ACF statement, especially their reference to the event of 1966.

“We must make it clear to them that they cannot threaten us with a war at this stage as we will not provoke war but never are we going to run for anybody on our land.

“We are miffed that a body like ACF that has never shown any remorse over the killing of our people can open their mouths anyhow now because there are consequences for the irresponsible actions of their people.

“We advise them to call their criminals to order and not expect our people to sheepishly wait to be killed by those who value cow lives more than human beings.

“We do not want a repeat of 1966 event but if there are people plotting such event again, the rain will be over their heads.”

The post You can’t threaten Yoruba with war, Afenifere warns ACF appeared first on Frontpageng.

The alarm is contained in an open letter to the president.

The leading traditional ruler in Yoruba land said:

“The people of Yorubaland in the traditional six State of the South-West geo-political zone and extending to some parts of Kogi, Kwara and Edo State live in palpable fear because of new wave of insecurity of life and property they now witness on a daily basis and which is alien to them.

“This new uncomplimentary development is not unrelated to the new wave of criminal activities usually associated with banditry, armed robbery and lately, kidnapping and rape of genuinely innocent and law abiding citizens….

“This is a serious national emergency, when Fulani herdsmen are engaged in criminality all over the country and the sitting federal government seems helpless and generally unperturbed by what is going on in the security organisations.

“There is no doubt that some leaders of these security organisations are either incompetent or bankrupt of ideas. Some are even compromised to take any decisive actions against criminals.”

The letter titled “AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI BY THE ALAAFIN OF OYO, OBA LAMIDI OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI III,” reads in full:

Your Excellency,

I have never been timid or shy of my total support for the success of your administration to deliver the country to the Promised Land.

My confidence had always been based on Your Excellency’s ability, fitness and competence in leading the country to the Promised Land, where Law and Order prevail, individual liberty is guaranteed, economic well-being of the citizens is assured.

That my confidence in Your Excellency remains unshaken to date. In recent time however, I am worried about the security situation in the country, especially in the South West geo-political zone, nay the entire Yoruba-speaking area of the country including Kwara, Kogi and Edo states.

This has to do with the *incessant and increasing menace of Fulani herdsmen that have laid siege in almost all the highways of Yoruba land. Whether in Owo, Akure, Ilesa/Ife-Ibadan road or Ibarapa zone and Ijebu area of Ogun state, the story is the same.

I have held series of consultations with opinion moulders and eminent Yoruba leaders across board about the menace of these cattle herdsmen with such assault like raping of our women and in some occasions, in the presence of their husbands. That is apart from massive destruction of our agricultural lands; which ultimately points to imminent starvation.

On top of it all is the menace of professional kidnappers usually in military uniforms. What is more worrisome about the kidnapping notoriety is what looks like impunity which these kidnappers enjoy their nefarious activities.

After due consultations with Yoruba leaders and as the pre-colonial head of the Yoruba nation, we are worried by the audacity of these lawless people in effecting their illegal acts in broad daylight on our usually bushy highways without any arm of security being able to do anything.

Worse still is the confidence with which they demand ransoms and collect such illegal levies at their designated spots without any arm of security being able to lay siege on them as it was the practice in the recent past.

Now, we cannot even talk of parading suspects, when in actual sense, no major arrests have been made in this part of the country. Without arrests, we cannot talk of their facing of the law.

Unfortunately, and painfully indeed, in the face of the apparent helplessness of our security agencies, where do we go from here?

It is at the wake of this manifest frustration of our people that our people have found it unavoidable, even though reluctantly to resort to alternative measures to safeguard their lives and property.

Suffice to say that in most part of Yoruba land, their pre-colonial military structures have not been totally collapsed. Hence, such structures like Odua People’s Congress, Agbekoya and other vigilance groups.

Having stated the above, and having established my premise as a stakeholder in your administration in the firm belief that we all believe in the Nigeria project, kindly permit me, Mr President, to make the following points and submissions as the Alaafin of Oyo, the King and Head of all Yoruba at home and in the diaspora and the Chief Custodian of Yoruba culture and values.

The people of Yorubaland in the traditional six State of the South-West geo-political zone and extending to some parts of Kogi, Kwara and Edo State live in palpable fear because of new wave of insecurity of life and property they now witness on a daily basis and which is alien to them. This new uncomplimentary development is not unrelated to the new wave of criminal activities usually associated with banditry, armed robbery and lately, kidnapping and rape of genuinely innocent and law abiding citizens.

I remember when these nefarious activities were first noticed in Oyo/Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, I took proactive steps to stem the tide and to amicably normalize relations between farmers and herders. Our initiative succeeded because we were dealing with genuine farmers and herders who had a commitment to Nigeria and who were interested in promoting their economic activities in a peaceful, prosperous and united Nigeria.

However, *it is becoming obvious that the nature and character of banditry and kidnapping today are different from what they used to be.

Today, it is not merely infraction in the course of doing business, but blatant and criminal violation of the constitutional right to life and liberty of innocent citizens of Yoruba land. A few publicly known instances will suffice.

Certain individuals were kidnapped along Erio-Aromoko road, Ekiti State. They were tortured and exposed to danger in the forest for upward of two weeks.

These victims included the Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikole Branch, Adeola Adebayo whose decomposing body was eventually found after a ransom price of four million Naira had been paid.

Two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps both Yoruba were picked up along Ilesa-Akure highway. In the process of this kidnap, an unnamed individual died.

Musibau Adetumbi, a legal practitioner based in Ibadan was going to attend an Appeal Court session in Akure when he was kidnapped along Ilesa-Akure highway. Professor Adegbehingbe, a surgeon at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife was adopted along Ibadan-Ile-Ife highway. Dr. Muslim Omoleke, the Administrative Secretary of the National Electoral Commission was kidnapped around Ilesa, Osun State.

Mr Ayo Oladele, an employee of Guinness Nigeria and an Old Student of Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, was adopted and taken away and lately, Dayo Adewole, son of a member of your 2015-2019 executive council and Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, was kidnapped on his farm at Iroko, a village along Ibadan-Oyo road.

There are many other instances of kidnapping, raid, rape and banditry not publicly known but which were reported to the Police and other law enforcement organisations.

As ugly as the picture above seems to be, the people of Yoruba land have remained generally peaceful and have resisted concerted efforts to push them into civil disobedience or adopting self-help mechanisms to protect themselves in their homeland.

They have demonstrated confidence in you and in your ability to stem the tide of these criminal activities. Yoruba have been restrained from believing the new found Islamisation or Fulanisation theory.

I am therefore writing to you, as a concerned stakeholder in your administration, to alert you and demonstrate to you, the urgency of the need to quickly respond to these and other issues concerning Yoruba land.

There is a general impression among opposition group that you are not known to take decisive and proactive steps in many matters of national interest and that you are not usually too disturbed about the gale of insecurity in Yoruba land.

May I also share with you the outcome or product of my wide consultations in Yoruba land to let you know, beyond what official security reports will make available to you, that there is a growing feeling of frustration, disappointment and despondency among our people, which if not immediately addressed, could lead to other serious national catastrophes and security challenges.

The present state of insecurity is posing enormous challenges to people’s engagements in other economic activities. The incessant and increasing menace on our highways and farms in Yoruba land is making farming and other economic activities hazardous and dangerous.

I recall with sadness that the Old Oyo Empire disintegrated because the slave trade introduced insecurity that made all other economic activities which had supported and enhanced the prosperity of Oyo to decline. It is never my wish that any part of Nigeria will ever go through this harrowing experience again.

Apart from massive destruction of farms and crops planted on them, the new wave of Fulani, pretending and disguising as herders have unleashed a reign of terror on Yoruba land.

They destroy crops, they kidnap men and women, violate and rape our women, right in the presence of their husbands. What this portends is definitely more than the simplistic interpretation of farmer/herder clash but the deliberate acts of hostility and criminality.

What makes it worrisome is the fact that for reasons best known to the Police establishment, they have not been apprehending or pretend to be in the defence of victims.

There is always a tendency to blame the victims and demonstrate helplessness in apprehending and bringing perpetrators to book to face the full wrath of the law.

It is even said, Mr President that these criminal pseudo herders go about their nefarious activities in broad daylight and many times in military uniform. They carry sophisticated weapons, the likes of which are only available to state actors.

There seems to be no doubt that the security apparatus of the country is both overstretched and rustic.

The philosophy of policing the State, protecting life and property and ensuring the existence of atmosphere that is conducive to life and living in Nigeria is lost on the security personnel. In Yoruba land, we are scared and worried about the outrageous audacity and effrontery of these criminal elements in carrying out their activities and without any challenge by security operatives.

In situation where money exchanged hands, the Police are adequately equipped to trace every paper money issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Intelligence gathering concerning money paid as ransom should lead, finally to these criminals since they would eventually make transactions with the proceeds of their illicit and criminal activities.

As no major arrest of Fulani pseudo herdsmen has been made till date in Yoruba land, suspects cannot be paraded, let alone arraigned.

Even threatened a sitting traditional ruler and asked him to comply with certain directives go about as if they are indeed above the law and beyond arrest. It is unheard of that the state could be seemingly helpless in the face of these criminal assaults on its integrity and capacity to carry out the most sacred of its mandate; preserving life and property.

Mr President, let me assure you that the Yoruba people traditionally have what it takes to defend themselves and interests against all enemy attacks. What is of immediate concern is the possibility of these traditional self-help mechanisms of defence to conflict with legal and constitutional framework of the security organisations.

This is indeed my greatest fear, the situation is fast degenerating into what could trigger complete breakdown of law and order under a constitutional state arrangement. Thus latent frustration must be nipped in the bud to avert a breakdown of the state system in Yoruba land.

I am aware that members of the Odua People’s Congress scattered all over the world are already being mobilized to stand in the defence of their land and are ready, willing and able to raise an army of volunteers as was done in 1968 by the Agbekoya.

It is trite saying that a stitch in time saves nine. For me, and relying on ancient wisdom, the dilemma of a possible breakdown of state authority and power could still be managed and the slide to anarchy arrested.

Historically, and even now, ethnic relations between the Yoruba and the Fulani had been managed adroitly through excellent statesmanship and participatory administration of inter-ethnic group relations. I have had many instances of settling farmer/herder disagreements in my Palace to the extent of instituting workable modalities for inter communal conflict management and peace building.

What is strange is the new wave of criminally minded Fulani groups. What is again disappointing is the ease with which these criminals will leave our country should there be anarchy in the land.

They have other places to return to, but Nigerians don’t have another country apart from here.

This is a serious national emergency, when Fulani herdsmen are engaged in criminality all over the country and the sitting federal government seems helpless and generally unperturbed by what is going on in the security organizations. There is no doubt that some leaders of these security organisations are either incompetent or bankrupt of ideas. Some are even compromised to take any decisive actions against criminals.

What we are witnessing in Nigeria is an anomaly because it is inconceivable that in the 21st century, when the whole world is making appreciable progress in providing enhanced standard of living, Nigerians will be living under the fear of banditry, brigandage, rape, kidnapping and terrorism.

Insecurity is posing a direct threat and imminent danger to living in Nigeria. It is capable of de-robing the country in the comity of nations and passing it off as uncivilized and barbaric.

As more and more countries issue travel restrictions to Nigeria and parts thereof, it is just a matter of time for Nigeria to lose whatever gains it has made in repositioning itself for more decisive participation in the international system.

I trust that you will not allow this to happen and will quickly and decisively take immediate steps to re-establish confidence in your government and demonstrate the capacity of the state to protect all legitimate interests.

I wish you God’s guidance, courage and wisdom to do what is right, appropriate and necessary to build the Nigeria of our dreams, where no ethnic group is oppressed or taken for granted.

While urging you to take out time to read and consider this letter as coming from a stakeholder in your administration, I wish to assure you of the warmest regards of the Royal stool.

The post Alaafin writes Buhari over Fulani herdsmen attacks in S’West (+full letter) appeared first on Frontpageng.

The government also described as fake, the news that Governor Hope Uzodimma met with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) at the Government House, Owerri.

The denials were made in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku, on Thursday.

Nwachuku dissociated himself from the statement which he said was signed in his name to give legitimacy to the false claims.

The government accused the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state of being behind the fake news.

The government restated its commitment to good governance in the state, stressing that it would not be distracted.

The statement by the government reads in full:

PDP and fixation on fake news

The attention of the Office of the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma has been drawn to fake news making the rounds on social media, purporting that Imo State Government paid ₦8m to Fulani herdsmen, who allegedly lost their cows at Ezinihitte Mbaise.

In the said fake news, the criminals also purportedly wrote that the Governor met with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) at the Government House, Owerri.

Those who generated the obvious fake news also criminally signed off for the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, in a desperate attempt to legitimise their criminal intent and have the buy-in of the public.

This is not the first, nor will it likely be the last, time agents of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will criminally issue a statement purporting same to have emanated from the Office of the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser. They did when former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, died and, in their warped mentality and hallucination, renamed the Imo State University after Kyari.

Their intention then was to deploy misinformation to discredit the government of Governor Uzodimma and cause disharmony between the government and the good people of Imo State. They failed!

Again, today, May 14, 2020, the same people whose stock in trade is to disseminate false reports on social media to satiate the appetite of their paymasters have been paid to do what they and their sponsors are good at – criminality. Again, they have failed!

For the avoidance of doubt, the Government of Imo State under the watch of our able Governor Uzodimma does not know what the PDP-sponsored criminals are talking about as regards the purported payment of ₦8m and meeting.

The Office of the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, therefore, dissociate itself from the purported press release and purported payment, the imaginary meetings between the Governor and MACBAN, and the gibberish associated with the non-existent meetings.

While the government is very much committed to a society, where constructive criticism helps to bring development, it will continue to have zero tolerance for people who deploy criminality and subjective criticism with the intention of misinforming and misleading the public.

It is a shame that the purveyors of fake news on the current Imo State Government have sold their consciences that one wonders if Mac Zukerberg, the founder of Facebook and also owner of Whatsapp, will not be wondering if they are under spell.

On a day Imo people are reflecting and rejoicing over nearly one billion Naira that has been traced to be in dormant accounts in one bank alone due to the recklessness of the past administrations, a gang of PDP-sponsored social media zealots are busy orchestrating fake news, just to divert attention and cause disharmony. What a shame?

The government of Governor Uzodimma is irrevocably committed to good governance and will not be distracted, not even by the resort to fake news by the opposition and their agents as a blackmail tool.

The public in general and Imo people in particular should, therefore, ignore every fake news meant to misinform them about Imo State Government activities, more so, as Governor Uzodimma is not interested in telling anybody lies. The era of deceit is gone.

We also caution the reading public to be wary of fake news materials they are quick to help the criminal-minded propagandists, blackmailers and enemies of development share on social media as doing so will portray them as accomplices.

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Adegoke is the Mogaji Abose compound in Olubadan traditional lineage, Ibadan.

Adegoke, who is the Executive Director Finance and Chief Financial Officer of OES Energy Services, in a statement issued in Ibadan, said the issue of grazing called for wisdom, deep consultation and mutual understanding in the interest of all.

He particularly called for more involvement and commitment of prominent traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders and the stakeholders towards  finding lasting solution to possible controversy that may arise on the issue.

It would be recalled that the Oyo State House of Assembly penultimate Friday passed the bill 24 hours after Fulani herdsmen from various parts of the state resolved to use legal option to stop its passage.

However the lawmakers maintained that the passage of the bill would foster peace and promote agricultural business in the state, noting that it was to avoid continuous damage and end loss of lives and unquantifiable investment to constant clashes between herders and farmers.

But Adegoke said a common ground could be found to resolve the controversy, stating that meetings should be held to sort out gray areas in the interest of the masses, the government and the herdsmen living in the state.

He stated that Fulani herdsmen had been living peacefully in the state with indigenous farmers for years, to the extent that there were inter marriages until recently when open grazing became an issue.

According to him, “I want to appeal to our listening government to still give the herdsmen another chance by inviting them to roundtable discussions to sort out gray areas in the interest of the good people of the state.”

He added:  “I believe that the bill passed by our  lawmakers is not targeted at anybody or tribe but to find lasting solutions to the disagreement that always occur between the herdsmen and their host communities. In this wise, there is still need for a dialogue to arrive at mutual understanding by the warring parties.

“This issue is a sensitive one which needs wisdom, deep consultation and mutual understanding to resolve the gray areas amicably in the interest of the masses.

“The government and herdsmen can take a cue from the Benue State example where government and herdsmen recently sat at a roundtable.  The herdsmen apologised to the government for opposing the state’s anti-open grazing law while the government also agreed to accommodate them as one family.”

The post Oyo: Ibadan chief, Adegoke, sues for caution on anti-open grazing law appeared first on Frontpageng.

The allegation was made by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, on Thursday in a statement.

The group said it was unfortunate that ACF was assaulting the sensibilities of non-Fulani Nigerians on the killings.

The statement which was signed by Yinka Odumakin, South West; Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, South East; Senator Bassey Henshaw, South South and Dr. Isuwa Dogo, Middle Belt Forum, reads in part:  “The attention of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has been drawn to a press conference addressed by the Arewa Consultstive Forum(ACF) assaulting the sensibilities of non-Fulani Nigerians on the coordinated genocide being carried out by Fulani herdsmen /militia across the country .

“The level of insensitivity being displayed by the ACF on the serial crimes against humanity being carried out by their kinsmen shows clearly they are a group who think only about themselves while ignoring the interests of other citizens they jokingly refer to as “fellow Nigerians.”

“Internationally quoted figures say about 30,000 Nigerians have been killed in the last four years by these Fulani herdsmen/militia, with not a soul convicted even when we hear of people being charged to court for killing cows under this administration .

“It is childlike for ACF to blame Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum for the activities of these marauders bearing testimonies from victims on daily basis.

“As late as yesterday, there was kidnap on Lagos-Ibadan road during which the son of the CMD of Lafia Hospital in Ibadan and two staffers were kidnapped. Dr Oladopupo Sule, the CMD said: “The driver said one of the kidnappers communicated in English and others were speaking in Hausa of Fulani”.(Pg 52,Thisday ,25th July,2019).

“This has been the common thread in many of the kidnappings in recent time in many communities.

“Instead of ACF and their ilk showing empathy with the victims as humanity demands and contribute to finding ways to end the menace, it is only insults that flow from their mouths.”

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SMBLF’s statement is signed by Chief E.K. Clark; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere; Chief Nnia Nwodo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Dr. Pogu Bitrus, Middle Belt Forum.

The call on Fulani herders to return home was made by the Professor Ango Abdullahi led group.

SMBLF described the action of NEF as divisive and capable of moving the country more dangerously to the edge of the precipice.

The leaders also called on the international community to intervene to save the country from a dangerous consequence.

The statement by the Southern leaders reads in part:  “The Northern youths under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had about 2 years ago, given a 30-day ultimatum for Ibos to leave the North. And now, again under his leadership, the NEF has called on the Fulanis in the Southern parts of the Country to return to the North. This spells doom. We strongly call on President Muhammadu Buhari to put a stop to the divisive actions of Prof. Ango Abdullahi and his youths because it will be very dangerous for us to return to circumstances that created the civil war which took place in this country from 1967 to 1970 whereby many Nigerians lost their lives and property. The nation is yet to recover fully from that incident.

“Finally, we appeal to the international community not to watch arms akimbo the dangerous events that are playing out in Nigeria. It is cheaper to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the contradictions that have been deliberately orchestrated in the country as it would be more expensive for them to handle an implosion in Nigeria.”

SMBLF’s statement reads in full:

NIGERIA’S CRISIS AND NORTHERN ELDERS’ FORUM (NEF)’S DESCENT TO THE FRAY:

A response by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, to the order by the NEF, to Fulani herders to leave the Southern parts of the Country, and return to the North (Wednesday, 17th July, 2019).

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum is deeply worried that Nigeria is sliding dangerously to the edge of the precipice with no clear signal of the authority in the land doing anything concrete to arrest the drift.

We must make the following observations at this critical juncture:

1) The spate of criminalities in the country in forms of raping of women, kidnaps for ransom and killings of innocent people have reached a frightening proportion with the latest being the killing of Funke Olakunri (Nee Fasoranti) last Friday. We pray for comfort for the Fasoranti family and all families who are mourning dear ones across the country due to the unhinged activities of these criminal bandits.

2) We are saddened that at a time for national sober reflection on the tragedy befalling our country, the Coalition of Northern Groups has chosen to further inflame passion by making reckless and unguarded statements on the state of affairs. It is more depressing that the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has chosen to join the youths who issued a 30-day ultimatum to Southerners to accept RUGA or face unpleasant consequences in their provocative action.

3) We are shocked that Prof. Ango Abdullahi who is a co-Chairman of the Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum could join the call on Fulani cattle rearers to quit the South with all its implications without first consulting his colleagues on the forum. As an Elder, he should know that this type of call preceded the last civil war Nigeria fought in case the exuberant youth are not aware.

The SMBLF started working with the NEF when it (NEF) under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi invited all the Leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt to a meeting at the NICON Luxury Hotel on 18th July, 2018. The meeting was attended by eminent personalities, politicians and professionals from all over Nigeria including representatives from all the Northern States. In that meeting, we took a decision on the spate of killing, kidnapping and rape going on the country, perpetrated by criminals. The Communiqué of that meeting was published in the media, and the Federal Government reacted negatively to it. The list of all the Attendees of that meeting is available at any time. Since then, we have held, at least, three of such meetings at various place all working towards peace and unity of the Country.

Another reason for the group’s meeting is to search for a credible candidate for the then forthcoming Presidential Elections. We all agreed to interview all the Presidential aspirants, and after interacting with several of them, the group endorsed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; as a matter of fact this is the statement of Prof. Ango Abdullahias published in the Vanguard Newspaper of Saturday, 22nd December, 2018, when he was asked a question “Have you been able to speak with PMB?”

“No. in fairness to the elders when we met Afenifere and the rest of them, in one of the resolutions, we said we should talk to all the Presidential candidates. Of course, Buhari is one of the Presidential Candidates, so they drafted a letter but I refused to sign.”

Eventually, the group agreed to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential candidate, because we noted that of all the candidates we interviewed, he appeared to us to be the person who can unify the country and address the issues plaguing it. This fact Prof Ango Abdulahi also stated as published in the Guardian Newspaper of 7th February, 2019 where it was stated that “Leaders of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi has said, the Northern Elders endorsed Presidential Candidate of the (PDP) Atiku Abubakar because they believe he will deliver the nation from misrule and economic woes. Abdullahi said that the groups were backing Atiku based on his competence, insisting he still stood with Atiku. According to him, he was among those who supported and fought for Buhari to be elected President in 2015, but regretted that he, Buhari, has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians”.

4 We ordinarily would have expected an elder of the status of Prof. Ango Abdullahi, to show concern for human life by sending condolence to the bereaved at a time like this before getting into grievances that his group may have .Not seeing such attitude is worrisome.

5) The expressed grievance of the criminalization of Fulani as a group is totally misplaced and unfounded. As stated above, the Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum which Prof Abdullahi belongs to unanimously endorsed Atiku for the last election and still support him till now. Is he not a Fulani man?

What people have railed against is the terrorism which some Fulani militias who pose as herdsmen have inflicted on Middle Belt and Southern communities and which they have even openly admitted in some cases .We expect peace-loving and rational Fulanis to join in the condemnations of these criminal elements and the enforcement of the law against them. This would have shown they believe in the unity of this country and its cohesion. But taking any attack against these people as condemning all Fulanis unwittingly gives the impression that they endorse the activities of these elements.

6) The Southern and Middle Belt communities have not said fellow Nigerians from the North cannot do business in their areas. This is why we endorsed ranching for cattle business and that those who are interested should purchase land from the states and be ready to live under the laws of the states. What we are opposed to is creating Federal Cattle Territories in States in the name of Ruga.

7) We call on leaders to embrace responsible conducts in this season in Nigeria so as not to give the impression that they are war-thirsty.

We want to re-emphasis that at no time did the Governors and Leaders of Southern Nigeria object or declared war against the Northern Fulani herdsmen who have lived with us for many years. As I speak and write, there are a large number of them, living in and around my village, and doing their legitimate business.

What we are against, is the Fulani herders who are armed with AK47 and other weapons and ammunitions, killing, raping, destroying and causing mayhem. Even President Muhammadu Buhari has himself admitted that the Fulanis who carry these arms are not the legitimate herders, but those from other countries, and these are the ones the Ruga settlement is being planned for, and we say no to it, and will resist it. Prof Ango Abdullahi should not think that the North can do it alone.

The Northern youths under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had about 2 years ago, given a 30-day ultimatum for Ibos to leave the North. And now, again under his leadership, the NEF has called on the Fulanis in the Southern parts of the Country to return to the North. This spells doom. We strongly call on President Muhammadu Buhari to put a stop to the divisive actions of Prof. Ango Abdullahi and his youths because it will be very dangerous for us to return to circumstances that created the civil war which took place in this country from 1967 to 1970 whereby many Nigerians lost their lives and property. The nation is yet to recover fully from that incident.

Finally, we appeal to the international community not to watch arms akimbo the dangerous events that are playing out in Nigeria. It is cheaper to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the contradictions that have been deliberately orchestrated in the country as it would be more expensive for them to handle an implosion in Nigeria.

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