By Ayodele Oni
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere, has counselled members of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders to leave Ondo forests as directed by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
This is just as the Ondo State Executive Council rose from its weekly meeting on Tuesday with a marching order for the clearing of bushes along highways in the state.
Afenifere, whose members, Chief Olu Falae, had his farm destroyed several times, and Chief Reuben Fasoranti, whose daughter was shot dead two years ago, by suspected Fulani Herdsmen, are casualties of herdsmen, reminded them that the Governor remains the Chief Security Officer of the state.
Secretary General of the Afenifere, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, said in Akure that people of the South-West geo-political zone have had bitter pills of the Herdsmen which prompted the Governors of the zone to take pro-active measures.
According to him, the Governor’s order would go a long way in tackling insecurity in the state.
“The Miyetti Allah should not complain about the order, unless they want to give the impression that they support the criminal activities being carried out by some herdsmen in the state.
“If they entered into the forest illegally, the government has the right to eject them. It was from the forest that we heard that those that killed the Ifon monarch came from.”
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu directed that all road verges along major highways in the state be cleared with immediate effect.
This was part of the decisions reached at the end of the state executive council meeting on Tuesday.
The state commissioner for Local government Affairs, Mrs Lola Fagbemi, who disclosed the exco decision, said the move is designed to tackle rising cases of kidnapping and other crimes.
Fagbemi, flanked by the state commissioner for Information , Donald Ojogo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Raheem Aminu and the Acting Commissioner for Health, Jibayo Adeyeye, said clearing of verges will take place in all the 18 Local Government Areas.
