BY REBECCA AJANI
COMMERCIAL drivers, members of the Nigeria Forest Services, called forest guards, farmers, as well as traders, on Thursday, occupied the streets of Akure, the Ondo State capital, to drive home their support for the seven days ultimatum given by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves.
The scores of protesters were seen carrying placards, with inscriptions, “criminals must be ejected from our forest reserves”, and “Aketi, we are with you, bandits must leave”, among others.
They urged Akeredolu not to back down on his directive.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Jacob Adejo, said commercial drivers were no longer safe in the state.
He said his members would need protection, noting that herders were always attacking and kidnapping them with impunity.
The presidency had expressed concern that the Governor, as a legal luminary, could unilaterally issue the quit order without taking cognizance of the constitution that guarantees the rights of citizens to movement and to live in any part of the country.
But reacting to this, the Ondo State Government said if, indeed, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had issued the statement saying that, it meant some government officials were out to create a problem for the President.
Ojogo said, “One thing is certain, President Muhammad Buhari, by his antecedent, nationalistic posture and the patriotism he is known for, may not have ordered that statement.
“If indeed he (Shehu) issued the statement, then Garba Shehu owes this nation a great deal of explanation to let people know why he must take up the fight of people masquerading as herdsmen to commit a crime.
“Ondo State government did not say herdsmen or the Fulani people should leave the state. That is not correct. It is those herdsmen who have occupied the forest reserves.”
