An Elder Statesman and Chairman, All Progressives Congress Elders caucus in Ondo state, Senator Olorunimbe Farukanmi has described the step taken by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to address insecurity in the state by sanitizing the forest reserves as commendable.
Senator Farukanmi in a statement said the wave of criminalities in the state requires tough measures such as the one proclaimed by Governor Akeredolu.
The elder statesman noted with dissatisfaction, worrisome reports of killings, kidnappings and wanton destruction of farms allegedly by some fulani herdsmen.
According to him, the governor, as the Chief Security officer of the state Owe it a responsibility to protect lives and property of Ondo state people in line with his oath of office.
Senator Farukanmi explained that the governor had not singled- out Fulani herdsmen during his pronouncement but all illegal occupants of the state Forest reserves.
He said it was a rude shock when he read the reaction of the presidency, condemning the good intention of governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
He said rather than looking at the constitutionality of the governor’s action, the presidency ought to have identified with the state government in its efforts to rid criminals from the state forests.
The elder statesman called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other leaders of thought in Nigeria to urgently meet President Muhammadu Buhari on the best way to handle the excesses of fulani herdsmen in the country.
He noted that Nigeria is still facing socio-political problems and cannot afford another tribal war.
The one -time senator of the federal republic of Nigeria therefore pledged his total support for governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and all efforts to make Ondo state peaceful and crime-free to the people.