The Ondo State government has lambasted the presidency, describing its response to the directive given herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves as a brazen display of emotional attachment and a threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria.
The Ondo state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo made this known on Tuesday while responding to the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu condemning the ultimatum given the herdsmen to vacate the Ondo State forest reserves by the state government.
Ojogo said: “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 a 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, the state government has insisted that there was no going back on its directives for herdsmen to vacate all the forest reserves in the state.
