Why Buhari Must Resign As Miyetti Allah Grand Patron – Afenifere

The Afenifere socio-cultural organization has called for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari as the grand patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).

This, Afenifere said, would allow security operatives go after alleged criminals in the group who attack communities in different parts of the country.

The group’s call for President Buhari’s resignation as MACBAN’s grand patron followed comments credited to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who downplayed the country’s rising insecurity during a meeting in New York on Tuesday.

“With respect to general kidnapping which we have seen in parts of the country, again, this is not entirely new. In fact, some of the kidnapping stories you read or listen to are simply not true anywhere, some are fueled by politics,” Osinbajo had said a town hall meeting he held with some Nigerians in the U.S.

Following the statement credited to Osinbajo, a faction of the Yoruba group led by Reuben Fasoranti met in Akure, Ondo State, where they rebuked the Vice President for the remark.

The group met on Tuesday at the Akure home of Mr Fasoranti, after which they issued a communique on the matter.

It held that despite the notion painted by Mr Osinbajo, “Yorubaland is still under siege”.

“Meeting reviewed the state of security in Yorubaland and was overwhelmed by reports of traumatisation of our people by Fulani herdsmen/kidnappers/militia all across the six states in the zone as well as Kwara and Kogi States,” a communique issued at the end of the meeting, stated.

“All the reports provided clear indications of failure of the state as the security forces are largely incapable or unwilling to safeguard the lives of our people against these criminals as we are not aware of any of them that has been arrested or is under trial at the moment just as all the federal government has done so far is to make excuses for the Boko Haram and Miyetti Allah groups that have been accused of so many crimes against the people of Nigeria.”

The Afenifere further knocked Osinbajo, describing his comments “scandalised” and “provocative”.

The group said, “Meeting frowned at this unfortunate comments by the Vice President who shames the Yoruba people with his very cheap politicking with the lives of Nigerians,” the group said.

“Aside from the daily tales of horror across Yorubaland in the hands of these Fulani marauders, meeting would like Osinbajo to answer the following questions :

“One, is the report of the kidnap of a District Head from President Buhari’s town from May 1 till date politically motivated? And was the President speaking of another country when he handed kidnappers on rampage to God?

“Two, was former Health Minister, Prof Isaac Adewole playing politics when it was announced that his son was kidnapped?

“Three, what politics was afoot when the Ondo State Governor recently announced that his convoy was waylaid by kidnappers ?”

Afenifere noted that “if the Vice President could not answer the questions, he should kneel before his God and ask for forgiveness for violating ‘Thou shall not lie’ commandment.

“We further admonish him not to allow whatever ambition and political interest he serves to push him to make such infuriating comments as the No 2 man in the country again,” the communique stated.

In calling on Buhari to step down from his position as Miyetti Allah’s grand patron, Afenifere said it suspects that “the dual offices (occupied by Mr Buhari) made it difficult for security agents to go after members of the group whenever they commit or were accused of crimes”.

“We restate our earlier call on Mr President to separate the office of the President of Nigeria which he occupies from being also the grand patron of Miyetti Allah which we suspect makes it very difficult for security agents to go after members of this group whenever they commit or are accused of crimes,” Afenifere demanded.

“There must be immediate enforcement of law and order as an urgent measure to flush out these criminal elements from our society.

“There must be immediate steps taken to rework Nigeria to take it back to the practice of federalism so that every federating unit can have their police to secure their environment.”