The Ondo State Government has declared that the presidency is emotionally attached to Fulani herdsmen.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo was reacting to the statement by the Presidency against the directive of the State government banning the operation of unregistered Fulani herdsmen in its forest.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu had condemned the directive by the Ondo State government.
However, Ojogo insisted that Shehu’s comment was inimical to the existence of Nigeria.
Ojogo, in a statement, said Shehu had stated “unambiguously, the position of the Federal Government.
“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.”
Similarly, the former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode have also attacked the Presidency over its position.
Fani Kayode in a tweet on Wednesday said that the assertion by Garba Shehu that herdsmen have a right to reside in the forests of Ondo and South West was ‘insulting, provocative, asinine and absurd.’
According to him, “Quit notices cannot be given to law-abiding citizens in any part of Nigeria but must be given to those that kill, steal and seek to destroy the lives of others. Murderous terrorists and bloodthirsty and evil men that hide in the forest to ambush, kidnap, kill and destroy innocent and hardworking men and women have no constitutional rights.
“It is the duty of Governnent to not only flush them out from whichever hole they are hiding but also to despatch them to hell where they belong.
“Akeredolu has done and said the right thing and I urge every single SW Governor to do the same. Fulanis, Hausas, Igbos, Ijaws and all Nigerians are welcome in the SW but terrorists, bandits, killers and unhinged, bloodlusting and bloodthirsty psychopaths and sociopaths are not.”
“Buhari do your job and stop the killings. Stop turning a blind eye simply because they come from your tribe. Stop brushing this under the carpet and treating them with kid gloves simply because they are your footsoldiers. Stop protecting them and stop encouraging them,” he added.
