The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has declared that the Monday meeting in Akure between the Nigeria Governors Forum and leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) fell short of expectations.
YCE in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan signed by its Secretary General Dr Kunle Olajide stated that the Akure meeting was held without all the parties in the dispute in attendance.
According to YCE, it was unfortunate that representatives of Yoruba people particularly the socio-cultural organisations were not invited as complainants and victims of the herders’ murderous activities.
“Yoruba Council of Elders notes with grave concern and reservation the meeting of the Governors Forum with MACBAN held in Akure on the 25th of January, 2021. It is our belief that any meeting convened to resolve a dispute must have all the parties in the dispute at the meeting. The Akure meeting fell short of that expectation because the complainants who are victims of the herders’ criminal act were not invited to the meeting,” he said.
The YCE secretary general added, “The representatives of Yoruba people i.e. socio-cultural organisation ought to have been invited as complainants and victims of the herders’ murderous activities. Pa Fasoranti in Akure would have sent representatives from socio-cultural organisation to the meeting.”
“Watching on Television the participants at the meeting, one would think the meeting took place in Emir of Kano’s palace. Only South-west governors were the Yoruba leaders at the meeting and they are minority. However, our governors were not at the meeting to represent us as they were the conveners representing the Nigeria Governors Forum, which is the arbitrator of the dispute.”
