Governor Kayode Fayemi on Sunday relabelled Fulani herdsmen as ‘Bororo’ after the deadly attack on Isaba community in Ikole Local Government Area that left two farmers dead.

The casualties were recorded in Isaba community after herdsmen mobilised their kinsmen on Saturday morning, to attack farmers in the community.

Governor Fayemi in a statement via @kfayemi his official Twitter handle shied away from referring to the suspected attackers with the widely known nomenclature of Fulani herdsmen.

Public commentators say the move is the governor’s attempt at sounding politically correct so as not to offend his national aspiration. The governor chairs the Nigeria Governors Forum and he is rumoured to be seriously gearing up for the presidential seat in 2023.

“Yesterday, two of our farmers from Isaba Ekiti, Mr Toyin Akeju known locally as Jisoro and Mr Yusuf Onuche were found dead on the farms with wounds from gunshots suspected to have been fired by Bororo herdsmen. This, understandably, generated a lot of anger in the community,” Mr. Fayemi tweeted.

‘Bororo’ is the word used by the Yorubas to describe light skinned members of the Fulani clan.

Mr. Fayemi’s veiled reference however appears to be a deliberate decision by security superintendents in the state to deflect accountability for the murderous attackers.

Ekiti police command, while confirming the unfortunate incident on Saturday also described the perpetrators of the crime as ‘Bororo’, as reported by Peoples Gazette.

“There was a clash between some Bororo and farmers around 10:00 a.m morning that led to the deaths of two farmers. We are currently investigating the issue. Before we got to the location they [farmers] were already killed. We are after the perpetrators,” Sunday Abutu, the spokesperson for Ekiti police command earlier said.

Meanwhile, the governor has come under heavy criticism by Nigerians on social media who believe that his description of the cattle herders had a political undertone.

“Alaye which one be Bororo herdsmen? They are Fulani herdsmen aren’t you man enough? Or because of your own personal political agenda?,” @Destayo6 tweeted.

Another Nigerian @Polymat43955419 wrote: “Of Bororo Herdsmen & Fulani Herdsmen Of narratives that involve stepping on egg shells Of Political expediency and Protection of citizenry… Of Kayode Fayemi and “Peace” of the graveyard studies Of visits with questionable empathic motives.”

“In a bid for @kfayemi to please his way to earn confidence of those who think title-ownership of Nigeria belongs to them, he called the marauders “Bororo herdsmen” not Fulani. For truth, “Bororos”, “Wodaabe” or “Mbororo” are the same as Fulanis. It is like saying Ekiti-Yoruba,” @Princeola82 wrote.