Members of Miyetti group (Photo credit: )
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has knocked the governors of state in the Southeast for rejecting ranches for herdsmen in their region.
The South-East Governors’ Forum had in Enugu on Sunday agreed not to donate land for ranching in the zone.
But leader of the group in the Southeast, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, said in Anambra state that Miyetti Allah did not expect the governors to reject the proposal.
”It was surprising to us considering the cordial relationship that had existed in the zone between us and the state governments,” he said in a statement.
Siddiki said the group, which is the umbrella body of herders in Nigeria, had never failed to appreciate the commitment of the host governors in ensuring the safety of its members.
”It is our candid view that the South-East whose citizens are the major bonding elements among the people of Nigeria would provide exemplary leadership in accommodating other Nigerians in their midst,” he also said.
“It is evident that our organization’s advocacy for peaceful coexistence among indigenous farmers and herdsmen is increasingly making successes in the South-East.
“This explains our surprise at the latest stand of the governors which would not only frustrate our people from carrying out our legitimate livestock rearing business in this part but might be suggestive of a kind of suspicion that might undermine the mutuality of the claim of brotherhood.
“We are mindful of the various negotiations and consultations still going on in respect of the contentious issues of ranching, colonies and grazing areas across the country, we are hopeful that these issues are considered dispassionately in the interest of Nigeria and the generality of its citizens.”