South-West govs to meet Myetti Allah leaders Monday

National leadership of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) will meet with the South-West governors including Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Monday.

The meeting will hold as the ultimatum given by the Akeredolu for unregistered herdsmen to vacate the forest reserves in Ondo expired on Sunday.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo, confirmed the Monday meeting, adding that it would hold in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He said although the ultimatum had expired, there would be no further comment until after the meeting.

An aide to one of the South-West governors also confirmed that his boss would be in Akure for the meeting.

He said the presidency was determined to find a way to resolve the matter, not only as it concerned Ondo State but on the relationship between the MACBAN members and the South-West.

He explained that the presidency saw the determination of the Ondo State Government and Akeredolu to carry out the order to the letter and had to design a way to appeal to the Ondo governor and his counterparts in the South-West on the issue.

He said the meeting was called to avert a major conflict between herders occupying the South-West region.

Akeredolu had ordered that all illegal occupants, especially herders on the government reserved forests must vacate the area.

He gave them a seven-day ultimatum, insisting that all herdsmen wishing to operate in the state must register with the state government, just as he placed a ban on night grazing.