Food strike: Southern, Middle Belt Leaders kick over demand for compensation by cattle dealers, others Food strike: Southern, Middle Belt Leaders kick over demand for compensation by cattle dealers, others
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Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has condemned what it termed the outrageous financial demand as compensation from the Federal Government by the Food Sellers and Cattle Dealers Association for the damage suffered while the body was enforcing food blockade to the South-West, describing such as an assault on the sensibilities of non-Fulani in the country.
The blockade, which lasted for a period of six days, had since been called off, with the association now demanding billion of naira compensation based on their produce which got rotten during the period.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has reacted to a statement credited to the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on the ongoing crisis caused by the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria.
Gumi, who featured in a programme on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, claimed that the bandits are terrorising communities in the North-West and North-Central because of the injustice meted out to them by the Nigerian nation.
He also repeated his call for amnesty for the armed bandits.
However, in a statement jointly signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Chief Guy Ikokwu South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle-Belt), the Forum insisted that Gumi has only revealed his kind of person with the claim of injustice to the bandits.
Amnesty for Bandits: PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, M-Belt leaders blast Gumi
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By Dapo Akinrefon
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, Thursday, lampooned Sheik Gunmi who called for amnesty for bandits whom he said are fighting against the injustices Nigeria has done to the North.
In a statement entitled “Gumi Removes The Veil”, the forum asked Gumi whether the Hausa are protesting the injustices Fulani “are doing to them and the rest of Nigeria.”
The statement was signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).
The statement read: “The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum is not in the least surprised by Sheik Gunmi unveiling of his real being on AIT this morning, asking for amnesty for bandits whom he said are fighting against the injustices Nigeria has done to the North.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta
Controversy yesterday trailed Tuesdayâs alleged grazing of cattle by a herdsman at the Abeokuta home of Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
While the Ogun State Police Command has said that missing cattle strayed into Soyinkaâs compound, a close associate of the laureate and a former Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Olu Agunloye, said the herdsmen led their cattle to graze in the compound because they thought that Soyinka was not at home.
However, the South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has condemned the reported herdersâ scare at Soyinkaâs home.
Soyinka’s Residence Not Attacked, Herdsmen Trespassed On His Land – Son
The younger Soyinka, however, said while it was true herdsmen and cows trespassed on his father’s land, there was no attack or attempt to enter his father’s residence.
by SaharaReporters, New York
Feb 10, 2021
Olaokun, son of Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says herders did not attack his father’s house in Ogun State but trespassed on his land.
Olaokun disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
He was reacting to a viral video on social media, in which it was alleged that the Nobel laureate’s house was attacked by herders on Tuesday.