Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, has said President Muhammadu Buhari needs to categorically denounce criminality and the illegal possession of arms by herdsmen and other criminal elements.
Governor Akeredolu said this in an interview on Monday.
The Ondo governor had in January issued a quit notice to herdsmen occupying the forest reserves of the state, noting that the decision was made to address insecurity in the state as a result of incessant abductions.
Speaking during the interview, Governor Akeredolu insisted that a strong statement by President Buhari against those perpetuating various crimes and illegally bearing arms will be consequential towards resolving the insecurity crisis rocking the country.
“If the president decides that he’s going to make any statement, what all of us will expect from Mr president clearly, is for him to at least come out and let Nigerians know, as we know, that he does not support criminality. That is the essence of it. That is enough,” the Ondo Governor said on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“The president has said before that if you find anybody with arms that are unlicensed, they should arrest them. That will be a wonderful statement again.”
Governor Akeredolu also said it would be great for the country if President Buhari publicly orders law enforcement agencies to enforce no-grazing laws.
“Everybody in the north, has said ‘no’ to open grazing. Most of us have said so. Let us make a pronouncement on it, then the laws can follow. Laws have been made in a few states, ‘no to open grazing’, and that arms and ammunition must be lawful. If you are not lawfully in possession of such arms and ammunition, then you cannot carry them; the police must arrest,” he added.
Governor Akeredolu becomes the latest public figure alongside Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who have called on President Buhari to publicly condemn violent and illegal activities of herdsmen.
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