NATIONAL: Buhari meets with Akeredolu, Makinde, Ooni, others in Aso Rock

PRESIDENT Buhari has met with Governors Seyi Makinde and Rotimi Akeredolu.

It was gathered that Buhari met with them in separate meetings.

Though the details of the meetings were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report but there are strong indications that the meetings might not be unconnected with insecurity rocking the two southwestern states of Ondo and Oyo States recently.

Governor Akeredolu had on last Monday issued a vacant order to herdsmen in forest reserves in the state.

He said the decision was based on security reports that kidnappers are using the forest reserves as hideouts to perpetrate their crimes.

Oyo State has been embroiled in a crisis under the watch of Governor Makinde too.

Residents of Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government blamed the Fulani herdmen in the community for the kidnappings, killings and invasion of their farmlands with cattle.

Earlier, the President and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, met behind closed doors in Aso Rock on the brewing ethnic crisis in Yorubaland.

According to Punch an aide to the monarch said the Ooni told the President, on Tuesday night, the positions of traditional rulers in South-West on the activities of the herdsmen.

According to the aide, who prefers anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press on the matter, Ooni told the president about the damage done by some criminal herders in Yorubaland.

He also told the president about steps taken by traditional rulers to ensure peace in the region.

Reacting to the pictures that surfaced online after the meeting, he said, “Yes, they met. The meeting was supposed to have held before now but it was postponed till early next month for some reasons. They had to meet again because of the latest development in Yorubaland involving herdsmen.

“They also discussed other important national issues. Kabiesi will give details later.”

Photographs released by the presidency in the early hours of Wednesday showed that Buhari’s Aide-de-camp, Col ML Abubakar as well as the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, also attended the meeting.