- No vacancy in Aso Rock until 2023, says Marwa
Segun James
A Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections.
The endorsement came as the former military governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), said all those seeking to occupy the Aso Rock Presidential Villa should wait till 2023 as Buhari would be returned to power in 2019.
The National President of MACABAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Kirowa, announced the endorsement at the 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association, held yesterday at the International Women Development Centre in Abuja.
Kirowa explained that the group decided to unanimously endorse Buhari because of the numerous achievements recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructural development, youth employment and security.
He, therefore, urged leaders and members of the association from local, state and national levels to mobilise support and ensure that Buhari was re-elected.
The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma, commended the federal government for the robust measures taken by the military in eliminating cattle banditry and wanton killing of herdsmen and farmers.
Ngelzarma said the association would continue to collaborate with the security agencies in fishing out bad eggs within Fulani, saying, “As a credible organisation we do not and will not condone criminality in whatever form by our members.
“MACBAN pledges its loyalty and support to President Buhari for his laudable efforts of uniting the country, infrastructural growth of the nation and transforming the economic life of citizens for posterity.”
He, therefore, declared the support of MACBAN to the ongoing anti-corruption crusade of Buhari in its totality, stating that corruption is the harbinger of all the tension and crisis facing the country.
According to him, it is corruption that killed the livestock industry as well as other industries in Nigeria and gave rise to unemployment, low quality education, poor healthcare and high level of poverty in rural areas.
Ngelzarma expressed optimism that the federal government’s Livestock Transformation Agenda as articulated, if implemented fully, would provide a solution to the recurring herders and farmers conflict.
“We appreciate government’s programmes of transforming the social lives of Nigerians through empowerment, agricultural development particularly the livestock subsector, where pilot programmes of developing water and pasture in long neglected grazing reserves has commenced,” he said.
He, however, appealed to all the Miyetti Allah officials and members to be law-abiding and avoid frictions and utterances that are capable of heating the polity and go about their legitimate endeavour through harmonious relationship.
Ngelzarma frowned at the sensational and negative stereotyping of herders who are doing legitimate economic activity that contribute to the GDP of the country and ensuring food security.
He urged the media to be conscious of their reportage, which had the tendency to cause genocide, especially where herdsmen are described as killers and unwanted citizens even when they are victims of bigotry and xenophobia.
No Vacancy in Aso Rock until 2023, Says Marwa
Meanwhile, former military governor of Lagos State, Buba Marwa, has said that all those seeking to occupy the Aso Presidential Villa should wait till 2023 as Buhari would be returned to power in 2019.
Marwa said this while fielding questions from journalists yesterday in Yola, Adamawa State capital.
The former military governor, who is the chairman, presidential advisory committee on drugs, said he was confident that Buhari would defeat other presidential candidates in the 2019 election.
He said, “Buba Marwa Organisation was the first to organise rally in support of President Buhari in 2016, because Buhari has done very well in three areas of economy, security and fight against corruption.
“He will return for the second time by the grace of God, and for that, I have no doubt all those vying for Aso Villa should wait till 2023.”
On the recent security situation in the country, he said the Army and other security agencies have done excellently and need more support and encouragement from the public.
On illicit drugs, Marwa said the committee he was chairing had made several contacts and efforts to control the importation, consumption and dealing in such drugs and the trafficker.
