Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has lambasted elder statesman, Paul Unongo for advising President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy soldiers to the South-West zone to “protect Northerners”.
Fani-Kayode in a Twitter thread on Sunday described Unongo’s advice as “reckless, irresponsible and dangerous”.
Unongo, who is the Convener of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), made the comment in an interview with Sunday Tribune.
He was reacting to recent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in some states of the South-West.
The Second Republic Minister of Steel Development also urged Buhari to use the opportunity of being in power to develop the north.
“He is the president. He is from the North. He knows the yearnings and aspirations of the region. If the North does not get better, the rest of the country will not. But if the North gets better, no individual or group will rise against the country or any part of the country,” Unongo was quoted to have said.
Reacting, Fani-Kayode said that Unongo’s comment on deployment of soldiers was akin to “begging for war”.
“The suggestion that Buhari should deploy soldiers to the SW to “protect northerners” by Chief Paul Uningo is reckless, irresponsible & dangerous.
“Fulani terrorists are killing our people all over the SW and now he wants soldiers to kill us too? Unongo is begging for war!
“The worst thing is that the man is not even a Fulani. He is a Tiv man and we in the SW love and respect the Tiv people. We know that they are great and courageous warriors but Unongo is not talking like a Tiv man but rather like an old slave who has lost touch with reality.
“The same terrorists that are killing your people are the ones that are killing ours and you want them to be protected?
“Northerners are not in ANY danger in the SW but Fulani terrorists and killer herdsmen who slaughter, rape, torture & kidnap our people most certainly are.
“We make no pretence & have no apology for that. If the state refuses to protect us from terror we have no choice but to protect ourselves. That is perfectly lawful. The only reason you need to worry for your safety in the SW is if you are a killer herdsmen or a terrorist.
“We will not tolerate such beasts anymore & we will not alow them to slaughter our people. The overwhelming majority of Fulanis & northerners are not terrorists so they have nothing to fear. Only the wicked run when no-one is pursuing them.”
