Academics Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS), Ondo State Chapter has thrown its weight behind the seven days ultimatum issued by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to herders asking them to vacate the State Forest Reserves.
Following incessant cases of kidnapping, and other criminal activities traceable to herders in the state forest reserves, Governor Akeredolu at a meeting with the leadership of Fulani herdsmen ordered unregistered members of the cattle rearers association to vacate the Forests within seven days.
While reacting to the position of the state government, the State Chairman of ASUSS in Ondo State, Comrade Tajudeen Balogun said the body supported the move of the governor, saying safety of lives and property of the residents of the state is paramount.
Comrade Balogun stated further that the governor as the Chief Security Officer of the state is saddled with the responsibility and duty to enhance the safety of its citizens.
” The duty of the governor is to protect life and property as the Chief Security Officer; we were all living witness when a first class monarch was killed among other residents of the state who have lost their lives to kidnappers and armed robbers”.
He commended the bold step of the governor to stand for the people of the state despite resistance from the presidency, saying enough of kidnapping and killings of innocent people in the state.
He asked the members of the public to disregard the statement that the governor ordered Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state, adding that Arakunrin Akeredolu only asked the unregistered herders to leave the forest reserves.
” At no time did the governor ask Fulani herdsmen to leave the state but ask the herders to vacate the forest that kidnappers are using as hideout. Mr Governor is carrying out the right order and he should pay less attention to the statement credited to the presidency”.
The Chairman asked the Federal Government to see security issues as the responsibility of any responsible government that care about the safety of its citizens, saying presidency ought to commend the bold step of the governor rather than protecting the interest of certain ethnicity.
