Another faction heavily criticized Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the day that an Afenifere faction met with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ayo Fasanmi led the faction of the Yoruba socio-political group that met with Mr. Buhari and included Tajudeen Olusi, Segun Osoba and Bola Tinubu.
A separate group, led by Reuben Fasoranti, met in Akure after which on Sunday he criticized Mr Osinbajo for his remarks on the security scenario in Nigeria while talking in New York.
The Fasoranti-led faction criticized the Buhari administration and endorsed Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election, while the Fasanmi faction endorsed Mr Buhari.
Both factions were together at the early point of the fourth republic under late Abraham Adesanya.
The group led by Fasoranti said the vice president made his remarks ”without much thought for his integrity.”
Mr Osinbajo had downplayed the increasing insecurity in areas of the nation that claimed hundreds of life and mutilated many people. He said that some of the assaults were politically motivated and that there were exaggerated instances of abduction across the nation.
“With respect to general kidnapping which we have seen in parts of the country, again, this is not entirely new. In fact, some of the kidnapping stories you read or listen to are simply not true anywhere, some are fueled by politics,” Mr Osinbajo said.
President Buhari was also called by the Fasoranti-led Afenifere to withdraw from being the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association’s patron. It said that his role as the association’s Grand Patron was frustrating security agencies ‘ attempts.
At its General Assembly, held on Tuesday at Mr Fasoranti’s Akure home, it reached the findings.
It argued that despite Mr Osinbajo’s concept, “Yorubaland is still under siege”.
“Meeting reviewed the state of security in Yorubaland and was overwhelmed by reports of traumatisation of our people by Fulani herdsmen/kidnappers/militia all across the six states in the zone as well as Kwara and Kogi States,” a communique issued at the end of the meeting, stated.
“All the reports provided clear indications of failure of the state as the security forces are largely incapable or unwilling to safeguard the lives of our people against these criminals as we are not aware of any of them that has been arrested or is under trial at the moment just as all the federal government has done so far is to make excuses for the Boko Haram and Miyetti Allah groups that have been accused of so many crimes against the people of Nigeria.”
Afenifere observed it was “scandalized” by Mr Osinbajo’s “provocative” statements in New York on Sunday, rejecting the country’s threat as “politically motivated.”
The group said the country’s state of insecurity explains why the U.S. and Britain issued travel guidelines not to travel to about 2/3 of Nigeria to their people.
“Meeting frowned at this unfortunate comments by the Vice President who shames the Yoruba people with his very cheap politicking with the lives of Nigerians,” the group said.
“Aside from the daily tales of horror across Yorubaland in the hands of these Fulani marauders, meeting would like Osinbajo to answer the following questions :
“One, is the report of the kidnap of a District Head from President Buhari’s town from May 1 till date politically motivated? And was the President speaking of another country when he handed kidnappers on rampage to God?
“Two, was former Health Minister, Prof Isaac Adewole playing politics when it was announced that his son was kidnapped?
“Three, what politics was afoot when the Ondo State Governor recently announced that his convoy was waylaid by kidnappers ?”
Afenifere noted that “if the Vice President could not answer the questions, he should kneel before his God and ask for forgiveness for violating ‘Thou shall not lie’ commandment.
“We further admonish him not to allow whatever ambition and political interest he serves to push him to make such infuriating comments as the No 2 man in the country again,” the communique stated.
Afenifere then asked President Buhari to withdraw from being Miyetti Allah’s grand patron, stating that he suspects “the dual offices (occupied by Mr Buhari) made it difficult for security agents to go after members of the group whenever they commit or were accused of crimes”.
“We restate our earlier call on Mr President to separate the office of the President of Nigeria which he occupies from being also the grand patron of Miyetti Allah which we suspect makes it very difficult for security agents to go after members of this group whenever they commit or are accused of crimes,” Afenifere demanded.
“There must be immediate enforcement of law and order as an urgent measure to flush out these criminal elements from our society.
“There must be immediate steps taken to rework Nigeria to take it back to the practice of federalism so that every federating unit can have their police to secure their environment.”
Thousands of individuals throughout Nigeria have been murdered or abducted in the previous year.
Despite the attempts of security organizations, the kidnappings persisted.
