The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest states have urged the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to impress on the federal government the need to safeguard lives of people in the region.
Also, the opposition party condemned the governors of the South-west , particularly those of Ekiti, Osun, Ondo and Oyo for not doing enough to safeguard their people.
The party said though the outcome of the presidential election is still being contested in the tribunal, it is important to declare that Nigerians look into the possible new tenure of four years with fear and trepidation.
A statement by PDP zonal spokesman Ayo Fadaka lamented growing insecurity across the nation and in particular Yoruba land.
The party alleged that in spite of the alarming proportions of insecurity there was no sign that the federal government was doing anything tangible to halt the orgies of violence, war, destruction and needless deaths.
“it is unfortunate to state that the South-west is today under the siege of Fulani terrorists or herdsmen who perpetrate criminal actions daily in the most unfettered manner.
“In our region, kidnapping, assault and rape by these marauders remains unchecked, this lethargy has even emboldened them to even attack a traditional ruler in his palace, without repercussions, thus egregiously making a bold statement that we the Yoruba have become their captives.
“This we condemn out-rightly as a direct assault, insult and desecration of our corporate heritage as Yoruba people. Much as we know that we cannot use the activities of these criminals to judge the entire Fulani people, many of whom are accomplished and responsible leaders in our Party and nation.
“We, however, restate that the average Yoruba man is now compelled to believe that plans remain afoot to conquer and subdue us in our fatherland.
“This belief is further reinforced by the fact government’s security agencies directly under the control of Mr President has so far done almost nothing to challenge and out-rightly put a stop to these insidiously dangerous actions of the so called herdsmen’
“President Buhari must as a matter of fact know that Yoruba peoples’ confidence in his ability to make peace reign in our nation continues to sink everyday and the danger in this is that resort to self help may soon become the order of the day, unless he takes concrete security/military actions in the South-west immediately”, the PDP said.
The party urged the government to immediately order the security agencies to flush these criminals out of the South-west to give Yorubas a sigh of relieve and discard the suspicion that ethnic cleansing is about to be prosecuted in the country.
It condemned some South-west governors for the poor manner they have attended to security issues and the dismal provision of basic infrastructure.
“Roads across these States have become the theater of operation of these hoodlums and they seem to stand by helplessly and watch, thereby making us to query what indeed they spend the humongous sum they take as security vote on.
“When we recall that this same Ekiti that is the Fulani terrorists/ herdsmen main operational theatre was bereft of developments of this nature under ex-Governor Ayo Fayose, it calls to question the commitment of all our Governors to keep our region safe.
“It is in Ondo State that an Oba’s palace was violently invaded by herdsmen and all the governor did is an appeasement of the hoodlums, this is disappointing.
“It is now becoming a common occurrence for these hoodlums to enter houses and pluck people like oranges.”
It called on Yoruba leaders to immediately shun partisanship and convoke a meeting where the issues of insecurity will be wholly addressed without delay.
