The former General Manager of Concord and Editor in Chief of the defunct Monitor Newspapers, Alhaji Liad Tella has warned individuals instigating Yoruba youths against Fulani herders in parts of South West to desist.
In a chat with Daily Trust, the veteran journalist who is the Asiwaju Musulumi of Iwoland in Osun State cautioned against the radicalisation of Yoruba Youths against Fulani settlers in Western Nigeria, saying enough of unnecessary heating up of the polity.
Tella was reacting to recent development in Ondo and Oyo States, noting that the development might trigger a chain of reactions that may precipitate reprisal action and push the nation to wild instability.
He expressed concern that “a private individual, Sunday Igboho, can declare Fulanis persona none grata in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo state against the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which grant the right of resident and settlement in any part of the country without let or hindrance.”
Sunday-Igboho became very popular because of his role in the war between Ile-Ife and Modaleke in Osun State and believed to be a powerful man in Yorubaland.
He said the importation of negative tribal nepotism by the Ondo Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu was highly unfortunate.
His words “As a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association NBA and Chief Security Officer of his state, Akeredolu should have lived above tribal sentiments and promote concord, not discord in his state and by extension Western Nigeria”.
Tella warned that unless the trend is arrested, the actions of Akeredolu and Sunday-Igboho might provoke negative radicalisation against Yorubas living in Northern Nigeria.
According to him, “Our peoples have lived in the North for over three hundred years ditto with the Fulanis in Yorubaland.”
He said the Gaha Compound in Iwo was the Headquarters of the Progressive parties since the UPN days. He wondered where the contemporary hate gospels are coming from. He advocated brotherhood of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion.
Tella frowned that the religious and tribal negativism currently pervading the nation is an ill wind that must be arrested now, not later. He warned Akeredolu to avoid setting the nation ablaze.
“Governor Akeredolu’s attention should be directed at building peace not chaos. As a matter of facts, most cows seen on the roads in the the West today are owned by wealthy Yoruba men, top politicians and and Traditional rulers.”
Tella maintained that this is the time for understanding and cooperation. He urged all stakeholders to act appropriately in promoting peace in the country.
