There is brewing tension in Akure North Local Government area of Ondo
State, over refusal of Fulani settlers to submit for measles immunization.
According to some official of the Akure North Local Government area
immunization programme, Fulani residents resisted attempt to be inoculated
against measles infection and possible outbreak at ayede Ogbese community.
A source who spoke under condition of anonymity claimed that indigenes of
Ayede Ogbese , the natives are co-operating with health official in
full.
The source said that the health officials came with the full compliment of
the World Health Organization (WHO) around the community very early on
Friday 16th March, 2018 and decided to set up opportunities at the Ayede
Ogbese Basic Health Center, only to be resisted by the Fulani settlers who
refused to be immunized.
The spoke person of the Fulanis, Mallam Adamu Adamu allegedlygranted
religious and cultural sensitivities to justify the refusal of his people
to be immunized .
Health officials who spoke with journalist granted Madam Adamu Adamu as
saying that it is better to leave the Fulanis alone than to aver crisis.
The fulanis, it was observed, spoke no local language and also did not
speak English, they appeared edgy and easily provoked.
When contacted the Odopetu of Ayede Ogbese High Chief Oladimeji Abitogun,
speaking on behalf of the regent of Ayede Ogbese, Princess Kofoworola
Olagbaju said that, the community was reviewing the situation with the
journalist to negotiate the way forward.
Chief Abitogun Oladimeji, said that the fulanis resistance was A
surprise and that it would be critically assessed. He, however emphasized
it that it was in the best interest of the fulanis and everyone in the
community to be immunized against possible outbreak of epidemics.
His words we have to find a way to do this effectively. We do not want
the parasite, virus, or bacteria to mutate and become strand such that,
they would weaken our peoples immunity and later do maximum change to
the health of residents of our community.
It was further revealed that the chairman of Akure North Local Government,
Prince Segun Oluyede, had started reviewing the ramifications of the
refusal of the fulanis with appropriate relevant agencies as a matter of
urgent national security riskon Friday.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the community leaders, health officials and
security agencies with the Fulanis is expected to hold at 10.00 at the
palace of Alayede of Ayede Ogbesethis Saturday.
A cross section of youth in the community seem to agree that the fulani
should either comply with the stands of the Government on immunization or
be advised to remove themselves from Ayede Ogbese