The President of the Unlimited Club of Nigeria, Dada Babajide, has called on the Federal government and SouthWest Governors to engage in dialogue and consultation over the crisis between Yoruba youths and Fulani Herdsmen in the Southwest.
Recall that an activist, Sunday Adeyemo Igboho had issued a quit notice to the Hausa-Fulani in Igangan, Oke Ogun area of Oyo State.
The incident allegedly resulted in the destruction of houses and vehicles.
Reacting to the incidence, Babajide advised the Federal Government to apply caution in handling the fragile situation.
Babajide made the call for the government to dialogue with stakeholders with a view to finding solutions to the crisis.
He said, “The Igangan incident must be condemned by all lovers of peace. But at the same time, we cannot close our eyes to the pain and suffering of farmers and indigenes of the area whom criminals see as soft targets for kidnapping, armed robbery, etc. It is however crystal clear that it is not a religious matter, though some have been misled into labeling it an Hausa-Fulani affair. Our focus must be the criminals, not any tribe.
“While we do not endorse violence, we opine that people whose farms have been destroyed have the right to express indignation. In the same manner, those whose relations or friends have fallen victims to criminal activities like kidnapping and armed robbery are justified to speak up.
In the same development, the PRO of the Club, Oludege Peters, has condemned the activities of criminals in the region, calling on security agencies to ensure that those behind criminal activities be brought to justice for thier crimes.
He said, “Truth is bitter, but the earlier we say it the better. Herdsmen have no right to destroy crops. This is where people have genuine grievances against herdsmen.
“Instead of applying tribal differences to the issue, we call on the Federal Government to consult widely with elders from all the states of the region concerning the issue of herdsmen versus farmers with a view to finding a comprehensive solution. Federal government should also seek advice from other African countries where the same crisis has been on the front burner at one time or the other.
In his reaction, the Vice President of the Club, Abolade Rasheed, said that the grassroots of the issue must be addressed to avoid a repeat of such conflict in the future.
In his words, “To douse tension immediately, both Federal government and the six Governors in the region should undertake to speedily and adequately compensate victims of herdsmen attack in the region. Federal government in particular should take greater responsibility because it is the nationwide lacuna in security matters that has been responsible for the breakdown in law and order.
“Instead of issuing threats and counter-threats, we appeal to the various ethnicities in the country to understand the nature of the conflict. We therefore advocate wide scale dialogue in the present circumstances. We call on governors in the region to consult traditional rulers on the best solution to the crisis.”
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