By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—AHEAD of the 2015 Presidential election and formal declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan for his re- election bid, the National leadership of Cattle rearers in the country operating under the aegis, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, said yesterday that they were solidly behind the president.
According to the association, President Jonathan was their own for appointing one of them as his Special Adviser.
Speaking yesterday on behalf of the group when they paid a solidarity visit on the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, its national secretary, Engineer Saleh Hassan, stressed that members of the association are ready to support the government in bringing peace between the cattle dealers and farmers across the nation.
This was as they canvassed support for the implementation of the transformation agenda of the present administration.
Meanwhile, Prof. Ahmed Alkali has told them that to show support for the president, they must obtain their voters cards and vote for Jonathan and all PDP candidates, even as he also called on them to embrace education, as it remained the only way to significantly improve on their well being.
Myetti Allah, which is made up of Fulani cattle breeders and pastorarists, however hailed President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, especially the aspect that concerns agriculture which they noted has impacted on their cattle yield, even as they said that their members were being misunderstood nationwide, which was why there had been series of clashes between Fulani pastorarists and farmers, adding that due to their firm belief in self determination, they decided to partner with government, especially in the advancement of the agricultural sector of the Transformation Agenda.
The body yesterday installed Professor Alkali as its Grand Patron Led by Alhaji Abdullahi Bello the national president and Engr. Salleh Hassan, national secretary, the group affirmed that they would “be working with government in bringing about lasting peace between us and farmers all over the country”.
Noting that the visit to Alkali was a show of solidarity to the President “for bringing one of us into office”, said, “the only thing we can do is to come here as a group to appreciate you.
“When we give you the report of the team led by a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) on the crises, you will find out that what you read in the papers are all false and aimed at tarnishing our image.
“We are willing to partner with the government in the transformation agenda, especially in the area of agriculture. This government is our own. You are one of us and we are not shy to openly identify one who has excelled in service to this country.”
Responding, Prof. Alkali who promised to constantly engage them in dialogue,said, “I thank you for this solidarity to Mr. President and the honour conferred on me. You have said so at several fora both in ‘Fulfude’ and other languages. You have said you are in support of Mr. President in what he is doing and that you mean it.
Vanguard