…says S/W States are under siege

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Southwest Zone has called on President Muhammad Buhari, as a matter of urgency to look into the insecurity situation in Southwest states as a result of the activities of the Fulani herdsmen which has left many people dead.

In a statement released by the party through its Southwest publicity secretary, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, PDP lamented thatthe South West is  under the siege of Fulani terrorists or herdsmen who perpetrate criminal actions daily in the most unfettered manner. 

In view of the incessant attack, the party called on  President Buhari to immediately order Security agencies to flush these criminals out of the South West states.

“if he does, we the Yorubas will heave a sigh of relieve and discard our suspicion that ethnic cleansing is about to be prosecuted in our nation. We will sincerely  appreciate him for it,” says the statement.

According to the statement entitled, “Southwest Under Siege”,  the party berated the kidnapping rate, assault and rape by the herdsmen, saying their activities  remain unchecked in the Southwest region.

“This lethargy has even emboldened them to even attack a traditional ruler in his palace, without repercussions, thus egregiously making a bold statement that we the Yorubas have become their captives.

“This we condemn outrightly as a direct assault, insult and desecration of our corporate heritage as Yoruba people.

“Much as we know that we cannot use the activities of these criminals to judge the entire Fulani people, many of whom are accomplished and responsible leaders in our Party and nation, we however restate that the average Yorubaman is now compelled to believe that  plans remain afoot to conquer and subdue us in our fatherland. 

“President Buhari must as a matter of fact know that Yoruba peoples’ confidence in his ability to make peace reign in our nation continues to sink everyday and the danger in this is that  resort to self help may soon become the order of the day, except he takes concrete security/military actions in the South West immediately”, the statement says.

The party called on the Governors of the South West States, particularly those of Ekiti, Osun, Ondo and Oyo to safeguard their people, noting that roads across these States have become the theater of operation of these hoodlums.

 “When we recall that this same Ekiti that is the Fulani terrorists/ herdsmen main operational theatre was bereft of developments of this nature under ex Governor Ayo Fayose, it calls to question the commitment of all our Governors to keep our region safe.

“It is in Ondo State that an Oba’s palace was violently invaded by herdsmen and all the Governor did is an appeasement of the hoodlums, this is disappointing. “It is now becoming a common occurrence for these hoodlums to enter houses and pluck people like oranges.

” The Governors must compulsorily know that we are essentially Yorubas firstly irrespective of partisan political affiliations, thus must assiduously protect our people and land through the instrumentalities of their offices compulsorily.

It also called on Yoruba leaders to shun partisanship and convoke a meeting where the issues of Southwest security will be addressed as soon as possible.

“These are trying times for us as a people, we have not suffered this type of invasion since the betrayal of Afonja and we must as a matter of urgency develop an immediate answer to this scourge before  it is too late.

“Our Obas owe us the responsibilities to eschew undue rivalry within their ranks, close gaps and design models of traditional response firstly in their various domain, and in our entire region.

“We also call on the APC leaders in the South West to put the pursuance of opportunistic desires aside and speak with President Buhari on this score, as for us in the PDP, we restate our loyalty to our Party and nation, but take very seriously our principled commitment to the peace and security of our region, Yoruba land”, the statement reads.