Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, says Nigerians do not need the permission of any governor to reside anywhere in the country.
Mohammed ,in a Television show on Friday, said citizens do not need the permission of his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, to live in the forests in the South-West state.
He affirmed that lands belong to government by trust, but Nigerians do not need the government’s permission to reside in the forests if they so wish .
“Land is in the hands of the state and federal governments in trust but Nigerians don’t need the permission of governors or the federal government to settle everywhere. You don’t need the permission of the governor of Bauchi or the governor of Ondo to be in the forests of Ondo if you choose to live in the forests because under Section 41 of the constitution, you are free to settle anywhere.”
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had issued an ultimatum for Fulani herders to vacate the state’s forests. The governor also mandated herders to register with the state government as a license to continue their business in the state.
This caused an uproar from various angle including the presidency who condemned the directive, adding that Akeredolu lacked the right to issue an eviction notice to Fulani herdsmen in Ondo state.
