…backs Akeredolu’s decision
The Yoruba from the South-West Region of Nigeria has called for the total eradication of open grazing, demanding herders to vacate forests in the region in other to tackle insecurity.
The call was made by the participants at a Yoruba summit organised by the Yoruba Patriots Movement (YPM) held on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. They also called for unity among the Yoruba people with a demand that forests in the South-West should not be turned into grazing zones.
Participants in the summit were drawn from the six states of the South-West and representatives of Yoruba communities in Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the Yoruba declared support for Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on the steps taken to rid of criminals in the State’s forest reserves.
The communiqué was signed by the National Coordinator of Yoruba Patriots Movement, Mr Oladosu Oladipo; Chief Tunde Balogun, Adebayo Adeboye, Senator Soji Akanbi, Rotimi Paseda and Mr Taiwo Akeju, among others.
According to the participants, the need for a new constitution that would usher in a restructured federalism which they said was needed for even development of the country.
The communiqué read in part, “Summit reiterated the position of Ondo State Government that forests across the South-West should not be turned into grazing zones. Summit encourages groups or individuals interested in cattle business to undergo legitimate processes of acquiring lands for ranching to be operated under relevant laws and regulations as may be deemed necessary by the respective states.
“The summit therefore resolved to work in collaboration with stakeholders across political camps for the realisation of the objective of supporting ambition of politicians from the South-West to offer genuine leadership to Nigerians at the federal level.
“The summit resolved to support the presidential ambition of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The summit demanded a new constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to reflect the demands for a restructured federalism which guarantees accountable governance, security and welfare of the generality of the people as well as to enhance accelerated development across Nigeria.
“The summit observed that in spite of threats and insidious signals constituted by obvious imbalances in the current federal system, there has been conscious attempts at denying the reality; and by so doing frustrate demands for restructuring as panacea for rescuing Nigerian project from precipice.”
Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, whose speech was read by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Adebisi Obawale, said, “It is important we reflect and share ideas on how to further mainstream the call for true fiscal federalism and what we must do to build a Nigeria that is founded on equity, fairness and justice.”
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