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According to a report by Channels TV on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has revealed that prominent northern leaders reached out to him after his administration began jailing offenders under Ekiti’s anti-open grazing law.
Speaking during a television interview, Fayose said the enforcement of the law generated reactions from influential figures across northern Nigeria. “The Emir of Kano sent emissaries to me,” he stated.
According to the former governor, delegations from different parts of the North sought explanations after several individuals were arrested and prosecuted under the law.
He also claimed that a former governor of Kano State and representatives from Sokoto visited or contacted him regarding the policy.
Fayose said some of the visitors questioned why Fulani herders were being jailed in Ekiti. However, he maintained that his administration was not targeting any ethnic group. “I told them I was jailing criminals. I wasn’t jailing Fulani,” he said.
The former governor explained that the arrests resulted from violations of state laws and criminal offences rather than ethnic identity.
He stressed that the law applied equally to all residents and that enforcement decisions were made by the justice system.
According to him, criminality should never be confused with ethnicity, religion, or cultural background.
Fayose argued that one of Nigeria’s major challenges is the tendency to politicise security matters rather than addressing criminal conduct directly. He maintained that effective governance requires leaders to enforce laws without fear or favour.
The former governor said his administration remained firm despite external pressure because the objective was to protect farmers and rural communities. He urged current leaders to prioritise justice and security over political considerations.
Fayose concluded that Nigeria would make greater progress in tackling insecurity if authorities focused on criminal behaviour rather than ethnic or regional sentiments.
