Recent attacks on Yoruba property unwarranted, provocative ―Yoruba Summit

YORUBA leaders under the aegis of Yoruba Summit rose at an extraordinary session on Thursday in Lagos to denounce the renewed attacks on Yoruba property and persons by Fulani herdsmen, describing such as unwarranted and provocative.

This was just as they declared their strong objections to what they termed the obnoxious and vexatious proposal by the Federal Government to establish Cow Colonies across the country.

According to the leaders, who met at a meeting chaired by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and attended by Prof Banji Akintoye, Dr Amos Akingba, Dr Kunle Olajide, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, Mr Goke Omisore, Chief Supo Sonibare, Dr Femi Adegoke, Hon Oladipo Olaitan, Otunba Deji Osibogun, Mrs Tokunbo Ekukinam, and Mr Bolaji Ogunseye, among others, recent attacks, include the killings of a pregnant woman in Ekiti State and a farmer in Ogun State.

Others they said are: Setting ablaze and destruction of the farms belonging to former Secretary to the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae; ex-Naval chief, Vice-Admiral Samuel Afolayan; former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr Dele Adigun and Mrs Roseline Ogege in Abeokuta.

In a statement titled, “Yoruba reject Cattle Colony,” issued at the end of the meeting, copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune by Mr Yinka Odumakin, the leaders, while condemning the incessant criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen across Yorubaland in recent days which they described as unwarranted, provocative and brutal assault, called on the Federal Government to be alive to its responsibility by enforcing the laws against such activities and their perpetrators in order to regain the confidence of the people.

“These renewed attacks on Youruba property and persons were considered unwarranted, provocative and brutal assault by marauding elements who now carry on as if the laws of the country have been suspended on their behalf by complicit authorities.

“Meeting condemned these assaults and called on the Federal Government to be alive to its responsibility by enforcing the laws against these criminal activities and perpetrators of such in order to regain the confidence of the people,” the Summit said.

Besides, the leaders made a list of other demands to end the current menace, urging the Federal Government to declare the killer herdsmen and militias as terrorists, disarm them and probe the source of their arms as well as stop the mass illegal immigration of armed Fulani and others into Nigeria through the far northern and northwestern borders of Nigeria.

According to them, an inquiry into the serial cases of illegal weapons that have been discovered at the Lagos Port in recent time must be undertaken by the Federal Government, contending that such discovery posed a serious challenge to the country’s security if nothing was done to unravel the source.

“Meeting made these demands to bring an end to the threats constituted by the Fulani herdsmen to law and order, security and peace in Nigeria and return the county to the conditions of modern governance,” the Summit argued.

On the issue of proposed Cattle Colony, the Yoruba Summit said it objected strongly to the proposal being pushed by the Federal Government, describing it as “obnoxious and vexatious proposal.”

The leaders argued that establishing Cow Colonies across the country would be in aid of “Private Business” and in violation of the sensibilities of different nationalities whose lands would be partitioned for Fulani herdsmen reminiscent of the Berlin Conference where Africa was partitioned for different colonial powers as a colony.

According to Yoruba leaders, such step presupposes a settlement of invading power in a given community where alien laws and values prevail, vowing that no inch of Yorubaland would be available for Cow Colony.

They said Yoruba were in favour of only ranching of cattle where those in such business would acquire land according to extant rules and subject their operations to the norms and culture of their host communities.

The Summit, therefore, called on Yoruba people to begin venturing into modern ranching for home consumption and export, while also urging state governments in South-West zone to evolve policies in the promotion of ranching by Yoruba people.

“Meeting also took strong objections to the obnoxious and vexatious proposal by the Federal Government to establish COW COLONIES across Nigeria in aid of PRIVATE BUSINESS and in violation of the sensibilities of different nationalities whose lands would be partitioned for Fulani herdsmen reminiscent of the Berlin Conference where Africa was partitioned for different colonial powers as a colony, presupposes a settlement of invading power in a given community where alien laws and values prevail.

“Meeting resolved that NO INCH of Yorubaland will be available for COW COLONY as Yoruba are in favour of  ONLY RANCHING of cattle where those in such business will acquire land according to extant rules and subject their operations to the norms and culture of their host communities.

“Meeting also called on Yoruba people to begin venturing into modern RANCHING for home consumption and export while our state governments should evolve policies in the promotion of ranching by Yoruba people,” the Yoruba Summit said.

Text of the statement reads: “Yoruba Leaders under the aegis of YORUBA SUMMIT met in an extra-ordinary session in Lagos against the background of the incessant criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen across Yorubaland in recent days which have witnessed the killings of a pregnant woman in Ekiti, a farmer in Ogun state and the setting ablaze and destruction  of the farms of  former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae; ex Naval chief, Vice-Admiral Samuel Afolayan; former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr Dele Adigun and Mrs Roseline Ogege in Abeokuta.

“These renewed attacks on Youruba property and persons were considered unwarranted, provocative and brutal assault by marauding elements who now carry on as if the laws of the country have been suspended on their behalf by complicit authorities.

“Meeting condemned these assaults and called on the Federal Government to be alive to its responsibility by enforcing the laws against these criminal activities and perpetrators of such in order to regain the confidence of the people.

“Meeting also took strong objections to the obnoxious and vexatious proposal by the Federal Government to establish COW COLONIES across Nigeria in aid of PRIVATE BUSINESS and in violation of the sensibilities of different nationalities whose lands would be partitioned for Fulani herdsmen reminiscent of the Berlin Conference where Africa was partitioned for different colonial powers as a colony, presupposes a settlement of invading power in a given community where alien laws and values prevail.

“Meeting resolved that NO INCH of Yorubaland will be available for COW COLONY as Yoruba are in favour of  ONLY RANCHING of cattle where those in such business will acquire land according to extant rules and subject their operations to the norms and culture of their host communities.

“Meeting also called on Yoruba people to begin venturing into modern RANCHING for home consumption and export while our state governments should evolve policies in the promotion of ranching by Yoruba people.

“Meeting also made demands on the Federal Government to do the following to end the menace of the armed Fulani herdsmen currently threatening peace, order and productivity in the county:

1 Declare the killer herdsmen and militias as terrorists.

2 Disarm the Fulani herdsmen and militias and probe the source of their arms.

3 Stop the mass illegal immigration of armed Fulani and others into Nigeria through the far northern and northwestern borders of Nigeria.

4 An inquiry into the serial cases of illegal weapons that have been discovered at the Lagos Port in recent time as they pose a serious challenge to our security.

“Meeting made these demands to bring an end to the threats constituted by the Fulani herdsmen to law and order, security and peace in Nigeria and return the county to the conditions of modern governance.

“The meeting presided over by Chief Ayo Adebanjo was attended by Prof Banji Akintoye, Dr Amos Akingba, Dr Kunle Olajide, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele Mr Goke Omisore, Chief Supo Sonibare, Dr Femi Adegoke, Hon Oladipo Olaitan, Otunba Deji Osibogun, Mrs Tokunbo Ekukinam, and Mr Bolaji Ogunseye, among others.”