Chairman of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, has called on people of the South-West geopolitical zone to defend themselves against attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
He made this position known in Ile-Ife after meeting with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in his palace on Tuesday.
Ladigbolu, a retired cleric, said it had become imperative for people to defend themselves.
Ladigbolu, a retired cleric, said it had become imperative for people to defend themselves.
He accused the government of abdicating its responsibilities to the citizens who were being oppressed and terrorised daily by the rampaging herdsmen.
While slamming the federal government for failing to act, the YUF leader accused the governors in the region of not doing enough to defend their people or stop the daily attacks by the herdsmen.
He said, “I am not sure the South-West governors are doing enough and indeed, my own fears is that could this be a rehearsal of the ground design to invade Yorubaland using decoys? That is my personal fears.
“But all we can do at the moment is to ask our people to be vigilant and to defend themselves and protect their lives and property.
“But all we can do at the moment is to ask our people to be vigilant and to defend themselves and protect their lives and property.
“That is about what we can do for now until we are sure that we have a government that will be fair to all and that will be just to all and that will not be partisan in dealing with issues that affect our communities,”
He however hailed the Osun state government with the way it handled the recent clash between the Hausas and Yorubas in Ile-Ife, adding that there should be constant dialogue between monarchs and people resident in their region.