S/WEST: Tinubu quiet on Fulani herdsmen atrocities because of his 2023 ambition – Adebanjo

A LEADER of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo has said the former governor of Lagos State, Bola ahmed Tinubu has refused to comment on Fulani herdsman crisis in parts of the Southwest region because of his 2023 presidential ambition.

Adebanjo noted that the Third Republic Senator is avoiding being at loggerheads with Buhari who he believes his support will contribute immensely to the realisation of his dream.

The nonagenarian said this while featuring on a Punch Online interview programme, The Roundtable today.

He said, “Everybody knows who Tinubu is. Don’t bring me to that controversy. Tinubu does not represent us. All that is happening in Oyo now, what has he said? When they (gunmen) killed the Oba in Ekiti, what did he say?

“He didn’t say anything that will oppose Buhari because he is thinking Buhari will make him the president. So, he doesn’t want to say anything to offend him. Amongst all the governors he (Tinubu) sponsored, (Rotimi) Akeredolu has the courage to speak up.”

Recently, Fulani herdsmen have been fingered for the spate of crimes, particularly kidnappings, rape and killings, rocking the Southwest region.

Angered by the ugly development, a popular Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, well known as Sunday Igboho, had also asked herdsmen in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State to leave within seven days.

At the expiration of the ultimatum last week, he and his followers had stormed the Fulani settlement in Igangan to eject Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir, and herdsmen accused of perpetrating sundry crimes.

But reacting to the series of events that happened last week, Adebanjo said that Igboho did nothing unlawful or criminal by being at the vanguard of an agitation to defend his people.

“What he did is constitutional – self-help. Igboho arose as a result of the negligence of the constituted authorities to protect the people. If the Federal Government had arrested the Fulani herdsmen, Igboho won’t rise up,” he said.