The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has appealed to Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, to allow the newly established Ministry of Livestock to address issues concerning Fulani herders before proceeding with any eviction notice in the South West.
This plea comes in response to Sunday Igboho’s recent call to expel certain criminal elements among the Fulani herders from the region.
The Oyo State Police Command, however, dismissed reports claiming that prominent Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, issued a fresh ultimatum to herders to leave the South West.
The command’s spokesman, Adewale Osifeso, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that there is no truth in the report circulating online.
Meanwhile, the YCE’s Secretary General, Oladipo Oyewole, emphasized in an interview with Vanguard the need to give the President Bola Tinubu’s administration a chance to address this national issue through the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Oyewole also noted the importance of state governors enhancing their security measures to protect lives and property, stressing that it is their duty to ensure the safety of their citizens.
The YCE urged patience and cooperation, emphasizing that Sunday Igboho’s intentions are well-meaning but should be tempered with a wait-and-see approach regarding the new government’s measures.
Oyewole stated: “The YCE is fully aware of the active position of Sunday Igboho on his call for emancipation and liberation of the entire Southwest from the claws of Fulani jihadists and Fulani hegemony.
“But the Constitution of Nigeria protects the interests of all Nigerians in the land. Be that as it is, the YCE would want to give Tinubu’s administration a chance to normalise this national issue of the recently established Ministry of Livestock Development and the powers vested in the Ministry as pronounced by the Presidency.
“We feel that Igboho and indeed all self-determination groups and agitators should wait to see its effectiveness before executing forceful eviction and ejection of Fulanis from Yoruba soil.
“Therefore we, as children of Oduduwa, must be wary of not losing our integrity of acting with the common sense upon which we base our actions.
“Bola Tinubu is the President of the Federal Republic. YCE will not want to do anything to breed trouble for his administration without seeing a grave cause.”
“Sunday Igboho means well but he must wait to see the implementation of the new directive.
“As for the security of lives and property, let the Governors, who are the security officers, beef up their security apparatus to ensure safety. It is indeed their responsibility to do so.”