…As Miyetti Allah disowns statement
Following a statement credited to Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in which it allegedly called on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to resign his position or be forced out of office, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday gave President Muhammadu Buhari 24 hours to arrest and commence immediate trial of the leadership of the association or be held directly responsible for the utterances and actions of the Miyetti Allah.
The party in statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan described the outburst of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, re-echoing the threats by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and agents of the Buhari Presidency, to force out the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, from office as ominous and revealing.
It added that the unguarded statement by Miyetti Allah had exposed the synergy between the ruling party and some troublesome elements who according to PDP were being used to stoke division and create violent crisis that had resulted into daily bloodlettings in various parts of the country.
“It is now abundantly clear to Nigerians that those fomenting crisis, including the bloody clashes in Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Edo, Borno, Yobe, Enugu, Kogi, Adamawa and other states in our country, have political backers, who now want to channel them to achieve their unpatriotic quest to subvert our constitution and forcefully take over the National Assembly.
“Before now, to majority of Nigerians, the Miyetti Allah has always represented the military wing of the APC and the Buhari Presidency. It is incontrovertible that they have now become the fourth arm of government that can determine when and how to forcefully remove the number three citizen, the President of the Senate.
“It is common knowledge that Mr. President has come under heavy public criticisms on how his body language has condoned the unguarded utterances and actions of these characters.
“However, in the light of these treasonable and inciting utterances by Miyetti Allah, we demand that President Muhammadu Buhari, should within the next 24 hours, order the arrest and commence immediate trial of the leadership of this group, otherwise Nigerians will henceforth hold him directly responsible for the utterances and actions of the Miyetti Allah”, PDP said.
While the party said it was aware that Miyetti Allah does not represent the views and interests of the vast majority of cattle breeders or even any ethnic group in the country, it therefore urged all good spirited Nigerians to rise in condemnation of the actions and utterances of “these misguided elements, who are being used to attempt a constitutional breach that portends grave danger to national cohesion and our hard earned democracy”.
Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has disowned the interview granted by one Garus Gololo in Makurdi to Punch Newspaper titled ‘Resign or we will force you out’, Miyetti Allah to Saraki describing the statement as unfortunate.
A statement issued on Wednesday by Baba Uthman Ngelzarma, National Secretary of MACBAN stated that Garos Gololo spoke in his personal capacity and had no mandate to speak on behalf of the association.
Ngelzarma added that Miyetti Allah was a non-partisan association with no interest in the political terrain and couldn’t meddle into the affairs of political actors thereby compounding its already obvious challenges.
“I therefore urge all and sundry to disregard this statement. This statement is not from MACBAN and should be disregarded in its entirety. We take exception on this statement and Garos Gololo is entirely on his own and will be sanctioned accordingly.
“We cannot afford to add up to the many challenges we are confronted with. I’m therefore appealing to the general public to disregard this statement as it is coming from someone who doesn’t have the mandate of the association to speak on its behalf. Thank You and God bless you all”, the statement read in part.
Send your news, press releases/articles to info@primetimereporters.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
