The Oodua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC) warned on Tuesday that ‘No inch of Yoruba territory must be ceded for Cattle Colony’ by the State or Federal Governments, in a statement issued at Ibadan.
The group accused President Mohammadu Buhari of promoting ethnic supremacy through his indifference to Fulani genocide and savage manslaughter.
“It is the first time in Nigerian history that the Federal Government will boldly and without shame support armed insurgents and murderers. This is the worst scene in recent human history that no one can ever forget in a hurry.” ONAC berated the Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu for his support for the Fulani herdsmen.
According to ONAC, Akeredolu said that he would not ban grazing, despite over 200 Ondo farmers losing their jobs and even killed by Fulani herdsmen.
ONAC also accused the Herdsmen of kidnapping a former Presidential aspirant, Chief Olu Falae and raping and kidnapping innocent Ondo people without end.
ONAC also added in their statement, “It is clear from Akeredolu’s statement that after selling his own conscience, he does not care about selling the entire future of the people of Ondo state for a pittance. But this era will pass and treacherous leaders will soon account for their ignominy.”
The Pan Yoruba group said any attempt to cede any Yoruba territory in the traditional Yoruba homes of Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Akoko Edo, Itsekiri, Kwara and Kogi States is an invitation to anarchy. ONAC said any governor that harbours “Cattle Colonies” in Yoruba territory is inviting mayhem and bloodletting.
“We caution that land in Yorubaland is not a free enterprise. Land is owned by families and traditional communities. It is not conceivable that these lands will be hijacked by the Federal Government to benefit a few armed groups parading themselves as pastoral Fulani. The question we should ask is this: Can the Fulani land in Sokoto andu Zamfara be taken over by the Federal Government and handed over to Yoruba cocoa farmers?” The group said.
“We warn South West States never to allow grazing routes or Cattle colonies in any Yoruba territory. This will amount to using the Nigerian state machinery to commit atrocious crime against the indigenous Yoruba people. It is a conscious attempt to impose Fulani tyranny and conquest by other means on the Yoruba people”, ONAC added in the statement signed by its Deputy Chairman, Mr Olalekan Akinduro.