‘Yoruba’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness’

AGAINST the backdrop of cases of kidnap, harassment and destruction of farms by Fulani herdsmen, former Spokesperson of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode has warned that the South West may resort to self help if the government fails to protect the yoruba race.

In a statement yesterday, Fani- Kayode who hailed the Yoruba peoples meeting held in Ibadan, however warned that the zone cannot be sacrificial lamb to any other zone of the country.

According to the former Minister of Aviation, if and when the people of the South West were pushed to the wall, they would then know exactly what to do, adding that the killings, cases of rape and kidnap must stop.

Fani- Kayode’s statement read in full, “I am delighted that the Yoruba leaders met in Ibadan today and that they had a historic and successful meeting. I was scheduled to attend the meeting myself and I was slated to address the gathering. We left Abuja for Ibadan in a long convoy at 5.00 a.m in the morning but between Lokoja and Okene the road was completely blocked. We were stuck in the logjam for over four hours and by the time we got to Ibadan the meeting had ended.

“Even though we didn’t make it in time I was fully briefed about the meeting and I am very happy about its’ success and outcome. I fully support all the resolutions that were made and I am very proud of all those leaders that participated in it and of the conveners.

“What they have done is long overdue and it is important that we keep it up. The Yoruba must come together and stand united against those that seek to divide, shame and humiliate us and who wish to turn us into second class citizens.

“We must also be ready to defend our territory and our people when and where the government fails in its sacred duty to do it for us. Self-help and self-defense is not a crime but a necessity. We cannot be anyone’s sacrificial lamb.

“This meeting is a step in the right direction and I hope that those who kill, maim, rape and humiliate our people and desecrate our homes and land in the name of cattle-rearing get the message. Things can never be the same again and as long as they continue to kill and attack our people there can never be peace between us.

“Let this meeting be a warning to those that underestimate our resolve in this matter and that mistake our kindness and patience for weakness. The message is loud and clear: if and when we are pushed to the wall we know exactly what to do. The killings, the rapings, the abductions and the desecration and pillaging of our land and farms by these Fulani herdsmen must stop or else there will be consequences.”