By Kunle ‘Ladipo
Any one reading Yinka Odumakin’s diatribe would probably imagine that this is a genuinely concerned Nigerian.

Yinka odumakin

But Yinka Odumakin has always been a disgrace to all progressive causes.

Odumakin is one of the Yoruba, who joined up with the alleged corrupt Jonathan regime, taking all manner of appointments from him and declaring their support for a regime that has wasted and looted the resources of the nation.

He fought hard against the APC then throwing the support of his faction of the Afenifere for the PDP.

Since the PDP lost the election, Mr. Odumakin has focused his attention on attacking Prof Yemi Osinbajo. His hatred  for him borders on the hysterical and pathological. Odumakin actually took out a full page advert in a newspaper some months ago to criticize the Vice President for saying that Nigeria is not a mere geographical expression! Who paid for the full page advert?

What is the substance of his latest diatribe? That the Vice President has not spoken up against the herdsmen killings!

First, as is usual with him, this is a wicked and irresponsible falsehood. Let me point out what I, at least, have read about the Professor’s activities.

While he was acting President he specifically denounced the killings and took steps to abate the situation. I read his clear comments on the Agatu killings, his condemnation of the killings in Taraba State. Even in the Armed Forces Day Church Service on the Jan 7 2018 to which Odumakin referred, he fraudulently left out the following part of the statement the VP made: “We have also seen recently the killings that have resulted from attacks of herdsmen on farmers and communities…. The President has ordered the police and armed forces to deal decisively with these killings and to ensure that the perpetrators are found and punished.”

On August 17 in response to the spate of killings, then acting President convened a security summit, attended by  all governors, leadership of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, service chiefs, and security officials to deliberate on the issue, and the meeting led to the establishment of community policing.

I am sure many of us saw a video of the Vice President in far away Dong Village in Numan local government of Adamawa State which was sacked by herdsmen. He roundly condemned the killings and ordered deployment of security agents to the village as well as relief materials.

A grateful community came to visit him only a few days ago and the Hama Bachama leader of the delegation said: “We came to thank you for your visit to Numan communities. You made promises of relief materials when you visited, and the relief materials were brought. Also the Special Forces that you promised responded on time. There is also now a police command….”

Regarding Benue, in response to a statement by the Benue State Governor that he had written to the then acting President on the imminence of attacks without  a response, the VP stating the specific actions he took, including  putting the police and troops on the alert all to the knowledge of the Governor. No attacks took place between June, when the Governor wrote his letter until January 2018.

Clearly, in a state the size of Benue with 23 local governments, if no particular LG area or town is mentioned in a petition, there is no way anyone could predict that a cowardly attack would take place in Logo local government six months later.

Unlike Odumakin, who obviously has little to do and owes no one a responsibility, the Vice President owes a responsibility to all Nigerians. So, while condemning and fighting killer herdsmen, he must also ensure that innocent Fulani including women and children, some of whom were killed Mambilla Plateau, and Kikan in Adamawa are spoken for. Indeed when he visited Dong village, he was criticized by heads of Fulani communities for not visiting the Kikan, where women and children were killed.

In conclusion, what is clear in Odumakin’s motive is his blatant disregard for truth and incapacity for accuracy or fairness as a public commentator. He should be ignored.