“For the purpose of clarity, the government did not say, Fulani herdsmen should leave Ondo State. They are free to reside where other Ondo state Citizens are residing. They are also free to move around where other Ondo citizens are moving but are not free to reside where Ondo people are not free to reside, and they are not free to move freely where Ondo people are not authorize to move freely. Ondo people are not free to move freely in government’s reserve areas, they are not also free to commit crime. However, you cannot also say because you are a Fulani, you can kidnap people. Do you know that, out of the ten kidnapping/criminal cases are traceable to Fulani herdsmen? Who says, Fulanis cannot live in Ondo state, they can live in the town but they cannot live in the forest that belong to our forefathers or to the governor. Who says, they have no freedom to live. In fact, we want them to live in the cities not in the forest where they kidnap and destroy properties and lives”
These were parts of – a telephone interview conducted by Afrikanwatch Network yesterday night with a Constitutional Lawyer/Human Rights Activist, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, who is an ally of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State. He spoke from Ondo State on the quit notice issued by the government to herdsmen, and responded to most of the defense of Dr. Junaid Mohammed, a Fulanis, and a second republic lawmaker, who spoke with Afrikanwatch Network two days where he lashed on Yoruba race and Governor Akeredolu, saying his ultimatum to herdsmen is irresponsible and reckless.
Mark C. Orgu reports. News/Interview, January 25, 2021.
How can you react to Dr. Junaid Mohammed’s interview with Afrikanwatch Network last weekend where he berated the Yoruba race, and accused them of causing division in the country by fuelling the eviction of herdsmen in Ondo and Oyo
First and foremost, I want to express my total disappointment on Dr. Junaid Mohammed. For several years, I have followed his thoughts as I consider him as essential Nigerian Intellectual of Northern origin and to certain extents, his thought is mostly independent and impartial. Unfortunately, all of that seems to be preceded in an emotional reaction to the issue at hand. He appears not to have read the directive of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. If he read it, it appears not to have read it thoroughly, and if he read it thoroughly, he appears to have read it with deep mental prejudice. And that is very unfortunate.
Dr. AbayomiCould it be that Dr. Junaid Mohammed didn’t get Governor Akeredolu’s ultimatum message to herdsmen correctly?
First, What Governor Akeredolu said, was that, herdsmen should leave government reserve forest. Herdsmen who are not registered for the purposes of control, because you can only control those you know, you cannot control those you do not know. Herdsmen who are killing people, destroying farmlands , kidnapping, building huts on people’s land and forcefully taking over. This can not be allowed to continue in Yoruba land. Ordinarily, I would assume that Dr. Mohammed is not suggesting that all these illegal activities can be justified in Kano or any other places in the north. The other issue that I think to be essential is that, government reserve is a government’s property under law, and it also under government’s control. The government decides who go in and who cannot go in. For the purpose of clarity, the government did not say, Fulani herdsmen should leave Ondo State.
They are free to reside where other Ondo state Citizens are residing. They are also free to move around where other Ondo citizens are moving but are not free to reside where Ondo people are not free to reside, and they are not free to move freely where Ondo people are not authorize to move freely. In a nutshell too, Ondo people are not free to move freely in government’s reserve areas while herders are not also free to commit crime. You cannot say because you are a Fulani, you can kidnap people and move freely. Do you know that out of ten the kidnapping/criminal cases are traceable to Fulani herdsmen? Even in the last instance involving a couple and an engineer; they said the kidnappers (Herdsmen) are between 14-17 years of age and they met another victim tide, who has to look for ten million naira for ransom. I didn’t hear any reaction from Dr. Junaid rather than mere reactions because of the directive of the Governor of Ondo State, to protect the citizens of the state who are law abiding.
Are you angry with Dr. Junaid’s statement?
Yes, his reaction is cranky because he doesn’t seem to understand the law-The law is that, the land belongs to the governor. The governor is the custodian of every land in a state, including Kano state.
Presidency reaction, cautioning Governor Akeredolu of his quit notice
It is based on the principle of the right to live in any part of the country. Who says, Fulanis cannot live in Ondo state, they can live in the town but they cannot live in the forest that belong to our forefathers or to the governor. Who says, they have no freedom to live. In fact, we want them to live in the cities not in the forest where they kill people, and destroy properties and kidnap people. Nobody is saying they cannot live or move freely in the state, they can but where Ondo citizens are living and moving freely. For instance, nobody is saying, you cannot move on a high way. Look, does anybody say, they should not go to Shoprite, or is anybody stopping them of going to the governor’s office. Those are all public places everybody go and are entitled to. Fulani herdsmen are not entitled to take over anybody’s land. My product on my land, and my father’s inheritance because in the South west, there are no free land. Is either the land is owned by individuals or by communities or they have to ask for it. And if you ask for it, it must be for a lawful purpose. You cannot exercise freedom of movement for unlawful purpose. So, the presidency does not understand this-that was why they are talking out of point.
But the stance of the presidency on the situation may overpower the state’s decision
How,
Because they are insisting Governor Akeredolu does not have the right to issue ultimatum to herdsmen
But it is a matter of law, and if there is conflict, we can go to Court, we’ll now know whether the governor has the right or not. Under section 14 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it says: “A primary purpose of government is security and welfare of the people”. That means everything else is subject to that purpose. So, how can you say the governor does not have the right? Let me tell you. The governor can even take over the land or take over the property of Fulani herdsmen in the interest of state security. Are people not detain, was I not detained in the interest of state security, oh yes, I was during the military era.
Tell us about Freedom of movement
When you talk about freedom of movement, is it also applicable to cows. The constitutional freedom of movement and liberty anywhere; are they also applicable to cows. What are we talking about?
But Sir, is this not a constitutional matter.
Look, the Constitution says, freedom of movement subject to a reasonable law. You should understand it. Is there unlimited freedom of movement? There is no such thing. What is Dr. Junaid talking about? I mean, with due respect. Now, hear it from the constitution, section 41, freedom of movement: “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expel from Nigeria or refuse them of entry or exit”. The question is this, did anybody expel them from Ondo state.no, did anybody say, they cannot move freely, no. However, look at section 45. “Nothing in this section 41 of this constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in any democratic society”
There is a law that is guarding government’s reservation. If they think the law is not reasonably justifiable, we can go to Court. As at now, the law is applicable. It says: ‘Nothing in section 41 relating to freedom of movement shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society in the interest of defense- defense against criminals, public safety (security of the people), public order, public morality and public health or for the purpose of protecting rights and freedom of other persons” Does Junaid understand the law at all? He’s just emphasizing on quit order, quit order. He is just emotionally reacting.
Sir, don’t you think tribal and ethnicity has eaten deep in us, when it favours northerners they remain mute, like wise Yorubas and others, rather than deal with issues rightly.
Everything against Northerner seems to be against Northern tribes. Look at how amazing it is, that all these problems are being caused by herdsmen. Have there been any single Fulani that has been kidnapped in Ondo state. They are not concern about the killing and kidnapping by herdsmen and we didn’t hear of any northern reaction.
This has been on for quite a while. An Oba was killed right in front of his house. There was no single reaction from the herdsmen, even the invasion of farmland, no reaction from them. It is now they are coming out to bark like dogs. We want to run a government of law. Look at what the north has turn into. Dr. Junaid should tell us whether he also wants the South west to become like north. Maybe he is not embarrassed on what the north is today. We are embarrassed and we don’t want South-west to be like the North. Boko- Haram, kidnappers, from Sokoto to Zamfara, Kaduna to Borno. Where do you go in the north, nowhere. If he wants South West to be like north, never. We want to run a government of law and order, not a government that is controlled by criminals, like Zamfara, where they went to negotiate with criminals to leave on the land. We’ll not accept it in Ondo State.
Sir, are you not foreseeing secession
But there is a need to look at this nation, Nigeria. We really need to take a good look at Nigeria. Look at the north today, Dr. Junaid is there talking, is it the kind of north he anticipated. Should we allow the entire Nigeria to be like the North? Now, you can’t drive from Abuja to Kaduna, a distance of two hours. Bandits and kidnappers have taken over the highway and they brought it down here in the west and they expect us to fold our hands, never. We cannot allow criminals free movement.
There is another issue here, there is a sufficient evidence that the leader of Miyetti Allah is a beneficiary of kidnapping. In the case of the king that was killed, do you know, in the case of Pa Fasaranti’s daughter, The publicity secretary of Miyetti Allah in Ondo state was one of the criminals arrested. So, we should not defend our land.
Way Forward
Government of Ondo will enforce the ultimatum and ensure compliance. If we must die, should we die like dogs in the hands of illerates herdsmen who are criminals, never! Let me advice Dr. Junaid Mohammed to demonstrate some reasons
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