A cleric and Senior Pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has accused the Presidency of encouraging Fulani herdsmen to continue to perpetrate crimes against other citizens of Nigeria.
Giwa made this allegation against the backdrop of the disagreement between the Ondo State Government and the Federal Government over the seven-day ultimatum given Fulani herdsmen in forests in the state to leave.
The cleric accused the Presidency of motivating Fulani herdsmen to kill, kidnap and terrorise other citizens of Nigeria.
He also lashed out at the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who he said had been encouraging the herdsmen through his unbecoming utterances.
Recall that Presidency, through Shehu, had on Tuesday condemned Governor Rotimi Akeredolu‘s ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest reserves.
However, Giwa, in a statement on Wednesday said the Presidency was shielding the herdsmen.
He stated, “If Nigeria was in a good position, Garba Shehu ought to have been arrested and investigated over the killings, kidnappings in the country.
“Last week, I called the attention of Governor Akeredolu to the activities of herdsmen in Ondo State.
“Now that the governor has made a good decision to send them packing within 7 days, the state can now have peace.
“It is now glaring that Garba Shehu is the one encouraging and motivating Fulani herdsmen to terrorize the people.
“Whenever they kill innocent people, the Presidency has nothing to say. But, when people take action against them, you see Garba Shehu talking.
“I commend governor Akeredolu for listening to the citizens of the state, and I want to assure him that the good people of Ondo State are supporting him for this.
“Fulani are not Nigerians, they belong to the Sahel.