The Nigerian and Ondo State governments have taunted each other over a seven-day ultimatum given to unregistered Fulani herdsmen to leave Ondo Forests.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu had condemned the directive by the Ondo State government and lampooned the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, being a senior lawyer of the constitutional consequences of asking the people to leave his state.
However, the Ondo State Government has declared that the presidency is emotionally attached to Fulani herdsmen.
In a statement made available to journalists, Donald Ojogo, Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, insisted that Shehu’s comment was inimical to the existence of Nigeria.
Ojogo who was reacting to Presidency’s stand 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.”
Meanwhile, Femi Fani-Kayode has attacked the Buhari-led administration for condemning Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s ultimatum for herdsmen to leave forest reserves in Ondo state within 7 days.
Fani-Kayode a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation posted this morning described Garba Shehu’s position as ”insulting, provocative, asinine & absurd.”
In a series of tweets, he stated, ”The assertion by @GarShehu that a bunch of murderous thugs, psychopathic vagabonds, barbaric rapists, merciless ritualists & vicious killers have a right to reside in the forests of Ondo & SW & continue to slaughter& rob our people is insulting, provocative, asinine & absurd.
”Quit notices cannot be given to law-abiding citizens in any part of Nigeria and I have always opposed such notices. However they can and must be given to those that kill, steal & 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 Government to not only flush them out from whichever hole they are hiding but also to dispatch them to hell where they belong.
”Akeredolu has done & said the right thing and I urge every single SW Governor to do the same. Fulanis, Hausas, Igbos, Ijaws & ALL Nigerians are welcome in the SW but terrorists, bandits, killers & unhinged, blood-lusting 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 foot-soldiers. Stop protecting them and stop encouraging them,” he added.
