When Chief Olu Falae got kidnapped a few weeks ago, a few parties and public figures stirred-up tribal sentiments while reacting to the incident.
Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere was one of such groups, insisting that Fulani herdsmen should be banned from the South-West, simply because of Falae’s abduction.
Once that statement came to fore, it was only a matter of time before its Northern counterpart, Arewa Consultative Forum, responded in some manner.
The time has come- with the ACF describing the comments as absurd and embarrassing, stressing that it’s unbecoming of Afenifere to demonize an entire tribe because of the crime of a few.
The Northern body spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, via a statement issued on Saturday.
“The communiqué went further to warn that “if the Federal Government fails to stop Fulani herdsmen from attacking Yoruba people, it may result in a situation where the South-west people will have to defend themselves
“ACF considers such statement as reckless and unbecoming of a highly respected group like the Afenifere that choose to criminalize a whole race or tribe or region instead of the individual criminals.
“Moreover, our law books provides the process of dealing with such suspected criminals rather than arrogating such powers to ourselves. Nigeria has over 250 tribes and Yoruba is just one of them, for it to threaten other tribes just because of an alleged crime of some suspected herdsmen is unnecessary.”
“In November 2000 when some OPC hoodlums attacked northerners in the south west region, ACF did not blame it on the Yoruba, rather it urged the government to arrest the perpetrators that committed the crime.
“ACF therefore appeals to Afenifere and all other socio-cultural organizations and individuals to always exercise some restrain and show maturity in reacting to situations in view of the complexity of our country.”
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