The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has dismissed the quit notice handed down to Fulani herdsmen asking them to leave the Southwest region of the country.
The NGF stated this at a meeting with officials of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Akure, Ondo State.
The NGF was led to the meeting by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who doubles as the chairman of the forum.
The Governors’ forum urged all stakeholders to coalesce into a single force and tackle insecurity in the country, adding that the order of the Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media.
According to the governors, Akeredolu only ordered people “illegally occupying the forest reserves in the state to quit,” while advising genuine herders to register with relevant authorities.
Those at the meeting Governors of Jigawa, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar; Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu; Ekiti, Fayemi; Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola; Oyo, Seyi Makinde and Akeredolu of Ondo State.
Fayemi said: “Many members of MACBAN were born in the South West.
“So, Akeredolu cannot ask Fulani to vacate Ondo State.
“The area concerned is the forest reserves and it is about registration and also to work in line with the law.”
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the NGF and Miyetti Allah insisted that the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria remained the primary purpose of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“Insecurity is a national challenge and not peculiar to any tribe or region but must be addressed by the cooperation of all.
“The order of the Ondo State governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media. He only ordered those occupying the forest reserves in Ondo State illegally to quit.
“Criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter their origin, class or status.
“There is the need to build a partnership for peace and security with MACBAN and jointly wage war against criminality.
“No one had sent anyone away from any state or region but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality,” the communiqué said.
