Salihu Yakasai media aide to Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has accused Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of instigating attacks on northerners in the south-west.
Mr Akeredolu had ordered herdsmen to vacate the state’s forest reserves in a bid to address growing allegations of crimes by suspected herders.
The allegations have increased tension between the Yoruba and Fulani herdsmen, with an ethnic clash in Shasha, Ibadan, Oyo State forcing the state government to declare curfew.
Following a call by Akeredolu, who is also chairman of South-West Governor’s Forum, for peace to reign, Mr Yakasai tweeted on Sunday that the governor and activist Sunday Igboho instigated the attack.
He threatened that the north would “retaliate” at the general elections in 2023 if the attacks continue.
“You’re the 1st to start this instigations, Sunday Ighaho followed suit & now it’s Shasha. I can bet my life these aren’t mere coincidences. If South West leaders don’t put a stop to these deliberate attacks, we in the North will retaliate in 2023 at the ballot box. #ArewaRemembers,” he said.
Akeredolu joined Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Sunday in a visit to Shasha.
Meanwhile, there were clashes between herders and supporters of Sunday Igboho in January after the activist arrived Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo to enforce an eviction notice on herders.