Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has hailed the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum for boycotting a summit organised by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) over the invitation of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
The roundtable slated for July 29 and 30 is expected to have in attendance heads of security forces and other notable Nigerians.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum comprises Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan-Niger Delta Forum, and the Middle Belt Forum.
In a statement addressed to Abdulsalami and signed by Chief Edwin Clark (PANDEF); Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere); Chief Nnia Nwodo (Ohanaeze); and Dr Bitrus Pogu (MBF) on Sunday in Abuja, the forum said, “We thank you for your interest in the affairs of our country which made us to accept your invitation in good faith.
“It was in the thick of our preparations for the journey that fuller details of the roundtable came to our attention, some aspect of which has necessitated this last minute communication with you.
“We were comfortable up to that point until we saw the following: Gan Allah Fulani Development Association; Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.
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“While we do not know the members of the first group, the lumping of Miyetti Allah, a trade association for cattle herders and whose members have been accused of various violations of rights, including life, across the country sends worrying signal to us.
“It falls into the categorisation of our respected socio-cultural platforms with Miyetti Allah by Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu.
“We consider the above a grave insult to our bodies and our coming to a roundtable with the group would mean acquiescence to the narrative that put us in the same bracket with those wielding illegal AK-47 all over the country and inflicting terror on fellow citizens.”
Reacting to the statement, Fani-Kayode wrote: “I am glad that Afenifere, Ohaeneze, PANDEM and the Middle Belt Elders Forum have decided to boycott the Abdulsalami Abubakar-brokered roundtable discussion with the Northern Elders Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum and other northern leaders which was scheduled to hold in Minna tomorrow (Monday) because Miyetti Allah and a hitherto unknown, strange and shadowy group called Gan Allah Fullani Development had been invited.
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“Our great Southern and Middle Belt elders and leaders will NEVER sit with the butchers of men and lovers of cows and those that represent the Fulani terrorists!
“We cannot sit with them whilst they are busy slaughtering our people. If you want to sit with us then RENOUNCE violence, drop your arms, stop the terror and desist from giving us ultimatums and threatening us with death and destruction!
“When our great elders of Afenifere, PANDEM, Ohaeneze and Middle Belt Forum appreciate the fact that there is no point in having talks or attempting to build bridges with the Northern Elders Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum and any of those other northern groups who regard themselves as being members of the “master race” and who believe that they were “born ro rule”, that is when OPC, YOLICOM, Yoruba Summit Group, Yoruba Koya, IPOB, MASSOB, Bakassi Boys, MEND, Avengers, IYC, Egbesu Boys, Middle Belt Patriotic Front, Middle Belt Core Values and the Niger Delta Volunteer Force will swing into action.
“Meanwhile someone tell Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar that it was an insult to expect the elders of the south and MB, some of whom are up to 90 yrs old, to come running to his house in Minna for a meeting in the first place. If he and his friends want to see them they should go to the south!
“Secondly to add groups like Miyetti Allah and other shady and shadowy organisations to attend that 3 day meeting proves that he does not fully appreciate just how enraged the south and Middle Belt are right now.
“This is 2019 and not 1998! To solve this problem he will have to do far better than that and the north, who he seems to be working for, will have to get off their high horse and BEND THE KNEE!”
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