Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has admonished Nigerians of Yoruba extraction to refrain from making sweeping generalisation about the Fulanis.
The Chairman of the forum, Chief Audu Ogbe, issued the admonition in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital on Saturday, during the inauguration of the South West Executive of the ACF.
He urged People of the South West region to stop profiling Fulanis in the area as criminals and lawbreakers.
In his address, Ogbe, who was represented by the ACF Administrative Secretary, Alhaji Munir Mohammed, noted that Ogun State is one of the few States that accommodate people from diverse culture, religious and political affiliations.
Ogbe said his people had enjoyed the hands of friendship extended to them by the indigenes of the state.
However, Ogbe called for “a halt in the profiling of the Fulani people in the southwest.”
He called for diligent prosecution of those found wanting in the law courts to serve as a deterrent to others, regardless of their tribe, while appreciating the state government for making Ogun conducive for all to carry out their daily business activities without molestation.
Speaking at the event held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Governor of the State, Dapo Abiodun, called on Nigerians to eschew politics of rancour and acrimony, asking them to give serious consideration to the future of the country.
Abiodun said the time has come to engage in activities that would unite rather than divide the country.
He informed Nigerians that politics and politicking towards the 2023 general elections had already begun, saying “we must not allow politics to truncate what we have enjoyed in Ogun State.”
Abiodun stated that his administration had done everything to lower the political temperature, towards ensuring that all crimes, criminalities and thuggery are lowered so as to give people the freedom to go about their businesses.
He also commended Miyetti Allah chairman, who in his remarks, posited that everyone is free to go about their legitimate businesses at any time of the day in Ogun State.
“I, therefore, urged all our people to continue in their support and cooperation and also in prayers, together, we will build a state that is enviable by others,” he said.