South-West Governors, Miyetti Allah to meet Monday in Akure

As the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Ondo State government to Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves ended on Sunday, the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) are set to meet with the South West Governors Forum on Monday in Akure, the state capital.

The meeting is expected to find lasting solutions to the incessant killings, kidnapping and crises between herdsmen and farmers in the region.

The six governors include Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

One of the media aides to one of the South West governors who confirmed to Nigerian Tribune correspondent that his principal would be in Akure today to attend the meeting between the leadership of Miyetti Allah and other governors from the region.

Confirming the meeting, the Ondo State Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Bello Garba said the national leadership of the body has arrived in Akure in preparation for the peace meeting.

He said “the national chairman of Miyetti Allah is in town now and I cannot talk about what we want to discuss at the meeting now but I can assure you that we are going to address you tomorrow after the meeting.

“The meeting is to find peace and lasting solution and I am optimistic that the interface between the South-West governors and Miyetti Allah would engender the restoration of the most desired peaceful co-existence, unity and development in the region.

“We intend to work closely with the governors in this region to unmask criminals who masquerade as cattle breeders to inflict mayhem on innocent citizens. That is why we have decided to embark on a peaceful approach by meeting with the governors.”

Attempts to speak with the officials of the Ondo State government to confirm the meeting failed as no official was prepared to give details about the meeting.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Mr Donald Ojogo, who did not confirm or deny the development said meetings are not unusual.

He said: “Well, meetings of that nature, if true, are not unusual. We are all in it together.

“No ethnic group or a particular trade is the target of the government order. So it will be a welcome development if the meeting is holding. There is nothing too unusual about it.”