Yoruba elders back Akeredolu for ejecting herdsmen from Ondo forests, call Buhari ‘a failure’

Yoruba leaders, under the auspices of Coalition of Oduduwa Elders, have thrown their weight behind Govenror Rotim Akeredolu of Ondo State, over his recent notice to herders to quit Ondo forest.

Their stand came following the presidency’s statement that Akeredolu has no right to eject the cattle rearers.

The group in a statement by its National Coordinator, Tunde Aremu and National Secretary, Barr. Folake Ajasin, asked the governor not to be distracted by actions of those it noted, ” have failed to safeguard the lives of Nigerians.”

It said, “The marauders, who usually come without cattle, engage in kidnappings,attacking communities in guerrilla style of warfare, killings, burn houses and destroying other property! Should the governor fold his hands and look the other way while his people are being massively kidnapped, killed and their property destroyed? No, these have to stop now. And the only way to stop it is what Chief Akeredolu has done,” they said.

“We, the Yoruba elders under this noble umbrella body known as Coalition of Oduduwa Elders have watched with great concerns the turn of events in the South West,especially in Ondo culminating in the notice to herders to quit forests by Chief Rotimi Akeredolu,SAN. ”

“This is strange to us given that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested certain powers on state governors as chief security officers of their respective states on certain steps they can take to safeguard the lives of citizens and their property. Akeredolu, to the best of our knowledge is a sitting governor of Ondo State. Until he is out of office, he has the constitutional mandate to device the best ways possible in giving his people who voted him into office good and quality leadership. The quit notice to herders to leave Ondo forests is one of those steps he has taken to protect the citizenry. So, we ask the Presidency to leave him alone,” the group said.