· Protest their menace
·
Declare them persona
non grata in Yoruba land
·
Call for practice of
true federalism in Nigeria
(With Reports from The
Guardian)
Yoruba Leaders, with
dejection, total disgust and a high sense of indignation, Friday protested
strongly against the menace that Fulani cattle rearers have become in the country
rose from a high stake emergency meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, with a
call on Fulani herdsmen to vacate the region with their cattle.
Some Leaders at the meeting |
The decision is the
expression of their grievances against the nefarious activities of Fulani
cattle rearers in the country, who subject persons in host communities to
harrowing experiences, such as armed robbery, rape, murder, and the recent
shame and indignity that one of their leaders and elderstates man, Chief Olu
Falae, suffered in the hands of Fulani herdsmen who abducted him from his farm,
and released him fours days later after paying an undisclosed amount as ransom
demanded by his abductors.
Just barely one week of
regaining freedom, herdsmen hit Falae’s farm again with their cattle,
destroying his maize crops and disappearing into thin air.
So far, no arrest has been
made by the police.
At the emergency meeting, the leaders described
the development is unacceptable.
The leaders among others at the meeting included
President of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd),
who was a former military governor of defunct Western Region, Sir Olanihun
Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Idowu Sofola, founder of Odua Peoples Congress
(OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Prof.
Adetoun Ogunseye and Dr. Kunle Olajide.
In a statement issued at the end of the
emergency summit held at the parliament building within the Oyo State
secretariat complex, the Yoruba leaders demanded an end to grazing in
Yorubaland and directed all nomadic herdsmen to wind up their activities.
They warned that failure to adhere may lead to a
break down of law and order as they would firmly resist the herdsmen.
In the statement read to reporters by Olajide,
who is the chairman planning committee, the group also called for immediate
arrest and trial of culprits involved not only in the abduction of Falae but in
the killing and torture of others on their farmlands by these unscrupulous
elements.
Recalling that the incessant invasion of
farmlands by these Fulani herdsmen and subsequent killing of farmers are part
of the flawed federal system, the Yoruba leaders restated call for true
federalism and restructuring of the nation to enable each region develop at its
own pace.
The statement reads in part: “Yoruba leaders of
thought, both at home and in the diaspora, had an emergency summit in response
to the clear and present danger to the continued existence of our people. After
an extensive and inclusive debate on the threat to our survival, especially
after the unprovoked, unwarranted, mindless and serial attacks on the economic
rights of our people by the Fulani cattle rearers which has led to loss of
precious lives, rape and criminal abduction of our people for ransom, the
following resolutions were adopted:
• Despite the non-aggressive disposition of
Yoruba people, we have been victims of violent violations from our hostile
neighbours from pre-colonial days to modern times, from the 18th century, the
Fulani jihadists onslaught against the Yoruba race through the travails of the
late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, through the June 12 saga with the latest wars declared
on our people. We have always risen above boards as we strive to make our
neighbours see the need to deal with ourselves in justice and fairness not
because we are cowards but because God created us to fight only as a last
resort.
• We have since the amalgamation of Nigeria gone to any part of the country to live and work, respecting our hosts and posing no threats to them because our fathers say when you are in the city of lepers, you have to toe with meekness.
•Memories of our illustrious sons and daughters who became sacrificial lambs in the cause of this aggression against us over the years such as Adekunle Fajuyi, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Lai Balogun, Alfred Rewane and countless of our people by forces of the late General Sani Abacha are still fresh. Despite the untold injustices meted out to us over the years, we remain the only one out of the numerous tribes that has never questioned the corporate existence of Nigeria,
• The recent abduction of Falae was sequel to the running battles he has had with these Fulani herdsmen who had at various times invaded his farmland and destroyed his farm produce.
The return of the herdsmen is a declaration of war on the Yoruba race, the abduction of Falae is a continuation of attacks which these herdsmen have unleashed on our people over the years. They violated and killed our women, a newly wedded lady was also raped recently in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State by these herdsmen. The countless reports are in police record. The Nigeria law enforcement agents have shown that they cannot protect our people, given the plethora of reports made to them, therefore, given the gravity of the situation and unwillingness of the Nigeria state to put an end to this siege and also because we cannot afford to leave our people at the mercy of violence of these herdsmen who came to destroy their economic rights and also kill them, we demand immediate end to lawless cattle grazing in Yoruba land and ask all those who want to engage in cattle business to do animal husbandry, to establish ranches, our people are no longer prepared to allow further encroachment on our farmlands.”
• We have since the amalgamation of Nigeria gone to any part of the country to live and work, respecting our hosts and posing no threats to them because our fathers say when you are in the city of lepers, you have to toe with meekness.
•Memories of our illustrious sons and daughters who became sacrificial lambs in the cause of this aggression against us over the years such as Adekunle Fajuyi, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Lai Balogun, Alfred Rewane and countless of our people by forces of the late General Sani Abacha are still fresh. Despite the untold injustices meted out to us over the years, we remain the only one out of the numerous tribes that has never questioned the corporate existence of Nigeria,
• The recent abduction of Falae was sequel to the running battles he has had with these Fulani herdsmen who had at various times invaded his farmland and destroyed his farm produce.
The return of the herdsmen is a declaration of war on the Yoruba race, the abduction of Falae is a continuation of attacks which these herdsmen have unleashed on our people over the years. They violated and killed our women, a newly wedded lady was also raped recently in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State by these herdsmen. The countless reports are in police record. The Nigeria law enforcement agents have shown that they cannot protect our people, given the plethora of reports made to them, therefore, given the gravity of the situation and unwillingness of the Nigeria state to put an end to this siege and also because we cannot afford to leave our people at the mercy of violence of these herdsmen who came to destroy their economic rights and also kill them, we demand immediate end to lawless cattle grazing in Yoruba land and ask all those who want to engage in cattle business to do animal husbandry, to establish ranches, our people are no longer prepared to allow further encroachment on our farmlands.”
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in his address
expressed regrets over Falae’s predicament but appealed to the people not to
take laws into their hands. He warned that our simplicity as a nation should
not be taken for granted. “We are all Nigerians, regardless of tribe and
differences. The fight is not between the North and the South but legality
against illegality.”
Ajimobi urged Yoruba people to remain law abiding
in the midst of provocation, saying the time has come to address the issue and
ensure peaceful coexistence between the various ethnic groups.
The governor also implored law enforcement
agents to rise and find ways of curbing violence and unrest in the zone.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, in his
address, lamented that Nigeria is not yet a federal state and restated call for
true federalism.
Mimiko who was represented by the Commissioner
for Environment, Sola Ebiseni, said a situation where a governor cannot appoint
commissioner of police in his state is unacceptable. He warned that unless a
solution is found to the incessant incursion to farmlands by the Fulani
herdsmen, peace may continue to elude the land.
He said: “ It is not a matter of revenge but the truth is, there cannot be peace between the farmers and herdsmen unless a permanent solution is preferred. Those who must rear cattle must keep ranches within their territory. The solution is not to preach peace but the problems must be addressed so that it does not constitute menace to farmers.”
He said: “ It is not a matter of revenge but the truth is, there cannot be peace between the farmers and herdsmen unless a permanent solution is preferred. Those who must rear cattle must keep ranches within their territory. The solution is not to preach peace but the problems must be addressed so that it does not constitute menace to farmers.”
Gen. Adebayo, in his remarks, said the Yoruba have had enough and
must close ranks to fight this cause.
The YCE chief said Yoruba have always been at the forefront and must not be relegated to the background in the scheme of things. “Our actions have continually pulled us back as a race, we need to close ranks and fight for our common good.”
The YCE chief said Yoruba have always been at the forefront and must not be relegated to the background in the scheme of things. “Our actions have continually pulled us back as a race, we need to close ranks and fight for our common good.”
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