President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo Credit/Statehouse
Yoruba leaders tackle Buhari over Miyetti Allah activities
A Nigerian socio-political group, Afenifere, on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to choose between being the president and being a godfather to cattle herders’ association, Miyetti Allah.
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The Yoruba group condemned Buhari’s remarks in the aftermath of the killings by Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria’s north.
In a communiqué at the end of its General Assembly in Akure, yesterday, Afenifere said: “It is very infuriating that the president’s response and that of Miyetti Allah appeared to have been authored from the same laptop. Their reactions did not depict any sense of sympathy or regret.”
Miyetti Allah has also issued a statement saying the killings were in retaliation over rustled cattle.
Afenifere has also rejected the Federal Government’s plan to create cattle ranches across the country.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari visited Jos, the Plateau State capital, yesterday, where he directed security chiefs in the country to remain vigilant and ensure the protection of life and property.
At an interactive session with stakeholders he urged traditional and community leaders to complement government’s efforts by persuading their constituencies to be tolerant.
He said: “I will continue to pressurise members of the law enforcement agencies directly under me by the constitution, as the Commander-in-Chief. About eight days ago, we had a five-hour security meeting of the service chiefs and the inspector-general of police.
“What happened here in Jos is very bad. The question of leadership, from your household to whatever you are, is justice.
The bottom line is justice. That is why wherever I go, I always appeal to the leadership of the communities and the law enforcement agencies to always have control of their constituencies.”
Buhari condoled with the affected families and the government and people of the state.
The president met with traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, representatives of youths, women, trade unions, security chiefs and top government officials.
He also listened to presentations and recommendations by Alhaji Nura Abdullahi, the state chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and Mrs. Florence Jambol, a representative of the Berom community.
He said: “Whatever is being given to the media, we have to be very responsible about it. Take for instance the situation in Benue.
The Benue subsistence farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesn’t carry nothing more than a stick, occasionally sometimes, something to cut grass to feed his cattle.
But the present herder, I am told, carries an AK47, and people are even blaming me for not talking to them because maybe (they say) I look like one of them.
“There is some injustice in these aspersions. It is noteworthy that many Nigerians still acknowledge that despite the security challenges, this administration has made notable successes in the security sector.”
Earlier in his remarks, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong blamed parties in the conflict for reneging on their agreement to maintain peace.
“We are concerned that the sophisticated weapons used in these attacks are not those conventional to our environment for self-defence, but reflective of a terrorist invasion.
It, therefore, demands a justified response like that which was undertaken to address the Boko Haram insurgency,” he said, urging the Federal Government to establish an Emergency Special Intervention Fund.