Posted on: 04:41 Wed, 04 May 2016

Controversial and outspoken governor of Ekiti State, Fayose has sent threat messages to Fulani herdsmen causing mayhem across Nigeria.



Ayo Fayose
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on
Tuesday, warned marauding herdsmen that
have sent many Nigerians to their untimely
graves in parts of the country to steer clear
of his state or otherwise risk a greater danger
for their cattle, according to the Tribune.

He said failure on their part to heed the
warning would lead to the people of the state
poisoning the source of water by the
herdsmen for the cattle. Fayose stated this on
Tuesday, while speaking on the topic:
“Journalism and Politics; two sides of a coin,”
at the World Press Freedom Day organised by
the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo
State Council, held at the Dapo Aderogba hall,
Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Fayose said the time had come for Nigerians
to defend themselves in the face of
unwarranted attacks and killings by suspected
herdsmen across the country. Citing the
carnage carried out by them in Benue and
Enugu States, the governor said Boko Haram
appeared to have changed its identity to
herdsmen, unleashing terror on innocent
citizens of the country.

He said he had instructed his people to poison
water with a particular brand of chemical used
against fungal attacks in the event of any
herdsmen attack in Ekiti.

“It seems Boko Haram has changed identity to
herdsmen now. You as journalists must speak
out, the killings are under reported. Is it about
the mass burial in Kaduna State, the Agatu saga
or the recent killing which happened on
Monday? Ask questions,” he said.

On his criticism of President Muhammed
Buhari, Fayose said he had nothing against
the personality of the president, but that the
world democracy did not live on old leaders
again.

Fayose said it was wrong for the president to
believe he could use the panacea he adopted
to tackle national problems over 30 years ago
as head of state to solve current national
challenges.

“President Buhari is too old to rule this country
and that is why there is problem in this country
now. He is like my grandfather. Nigeria should
not produce any president that is over 60 years.

“World democracy don’t parade octogenarians
again. Young people should rise up to challenge
the older generation. Maybe that is why there is
a law that a pilot should not fly an aircraft after
65 years of age,” he said.

Fayose advised journalists in the country to
hold politicians accountable for their deeds
and character while in office, in order to save
the country from going down.

“You are the last hope of common man. When
journalists support looters, there is confusion of
vision. Journalists should shy away from it. Bad
politicians should be brought to justice. Don’t
write about issues you don’t know. Don’t rely
on what a politician told you of his supposed
enemy and don’t inherit his enemies. Journalists
must help bring corrupt politicians to justice.

“When politicians are going wrong, let them feel
the heat first from you. Most politicians are
using journalists in Nigeria for their dirty jobs
and they are supporting wicked politicians.

Journalists in Nigeria always shy away from the
truth because they are self-centred and greedy.
As a journalist, you need to discharge your duty
without fear or favour.