Don’t eject Fulanis from S’West, Abuja monarch tells Yorubas

A Yoruba oba in Abuja, Olusegun Salau, has warned against ejection of Fulanis from the South West geo-political zone, due to alleged insecurity in the region and activities of herdsmen, saying the repercussions of such action “could consume Nigeria.”

He also called on the Federal Government to urgently publish all the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, saying it would avail the public the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the issues tackled during the four-month-old event and make necessary inputs.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Oba Salau, said all the Yoruba Obas in the 19 northern states have taken a position that the Fulanis should not be ejected because, “they have nowhere to go other than where they find themselves today.”

According to him, such a decision is similar to pouring more fuel to a burning fire of which consequence would be grave.

He said the Yoruba obas in the 19 northern states have so far held meeting over it and had since come out with a position.

“All the obas in the North met in my house here and we issued a press release, stating our position regarding the issue as Yoruba obas in the North. Actually, Nigeria is one. From where I  come from, we have Fulanis that if you don’t study carefully, you won’t know that they are Fulanis,” the monarch emphasised.

He advised that the various communities in the South West should meet with governments of the region to find lasting solutions to  insecurity threatening the region rather than embarking on issues, which if not well handled, could consume the country.

Salau said, “I will advise that the community and governments of the South West region should sit down and dialogue on the way of resolving this insecurity problems in the region other than resorting to this means.

“There is no where you are going to push the Fulanis to. Fulanis, Ibos, Yorubas and the rest are all the same, no one should sit down and begin to think of how to chase another out of his territory, we are all the same,” he further stated.