Categories: News

Oyo Unrest: ‘Let’s Go Our Way’ – Miyetti Allah Calls For Restructuring

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore herdsmen group says it has not benefited anything from the federal government despite having one of their own as the president.

In an interview with PUNCH, the National Secretary of the group, Saleh Alhassan, said the group is also a strong advocate for restructuring as it will help address the the injustice against them and also deal with the issue of marginalisation.

Alhassan implored the Federal Government to listen to the clamour for restructuring of the country to allow the Fulani go their way.

There have been strident and sustained agitation for the restructuring of the country, with many southern groups and individuals insisting that it would solve the myriad of challenges bedeviling the country, while northern groups have largely been divided on the issue.

The clamour reached a crescendo recently following the quit notice given to herdsmen in Oyo and Ondo state and the subsequent attack on them in Ibarapa area of Oyo state.

But in the interview with PUNCH, Alhassan said a Nigeria where the Fulanis are denied access to land to feed their cattles and do business can’t be peaceful.

He noted that not all Fulanis are criminals, adding that it was wrong to punish a group of people for the sins of some.

He said, “We don’t support crime. So, I’m not saying there are no Fulani that are criminals, there are, like other tribes, but don’t destroy their profession. It’s not good for the country. If everything busts, it’s to the advantage of the herders because we are not even enjoying the federation.

“We are even bidding for restructuring of the country; let every part go, so we can say this is where we are. As it is now, there is no form of marginalisation we are not seeing in this country. Everywhere we are being marginalised. You think we will accept Nigeria where we don’t have access to land to feed our animals and you think there will be peace?”

He said if the Fulanis leave the southwest and Nigeria no longer generate revenue from crude oil, Yoruba will focus on animal rearing.

“Quite fundamentally. If we leave today now and if there is no oil revenue, won’t they pay attention to animal rearing? If we restructure the country and the South-West region says they won’t accept cattle unless they are brought to the market or supermarket, it’s okay by us.

He said there’s widely held perception among some people from certain parts of the country that the president being a Fulani gives them undue advantage or earn them a preferential treatment.

“Buhari has no relationship with the herders. That is the truth. When people say he is our grandpatron, was Jonathan from the South-South not our grandpatron?

“If the President is a Fulani, it doesn’t in any way affect the life of a herder. In fact, they are worse off under Buhari. What are they benefitting? They don’t access any government facility or social amenity, yet they are responsible for the bulk of animal protein we produce in this country. I think it’s deliberate for people to think otherwise.

“Buhari has not done anything for us other than creating enemies for us. Herders are being chased around. Let us look at the larger picture and not allow enemies penetrate us. If Buhari loves the herders, he would have created the grazing reserves for them.”