A pro-democracy group, Movement for Democratic Goals (MDG), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (MACBAN) to order over their threat against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The association through its National Coordinator in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo said Saraki would be forced out of office if he refuses to resign his position immediately.
Reacting, MDG, in a statement issued in Abuja, by its National Coordinator, Aliyu Abdulkareem said it would hold the President whom it described as Patron of Miyetti Allah responsible for any outbreak of violence in the nation.
“The statement credited to the coordinator of the association in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, where he threatened to force the number three citizen of the nation out of office, is not only reckless and irresponsible; it is also highly unfortunate and capable of throwing the nation into turmoil.
“Ordinarily, such threat could have been ignored as a noise of an attention seeking rabble rouser, but the several bestial activities credited to members of the association in the recent past, is a reason not to take the threat with levity.
“It is on record that members of the association don’t just issue threat, they go all-out to violently fulfil their threats, and it is evident in their recent activities.
“We also strongly believe that, he who plays the piper calls the tune; the association only echoed the mindset and plans of their paymasters and those giving them state support.
“As the Patron of the association, President Buhari must call them to order to forestall outbreak of violence and anarchy in any part of the country. Their threat should not be taken with levity.
“If any crisis breaks out in any part of the country as a result of the threat, we will not hesitate to hold the president and members of the association responsible.
“We will take it further by writing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to call their attention to the reckless and bestial activities of MACBAN with maximum support from the state,” the group said.
Similarly, the House of Representatives has reacted to a statement credited to Garus Gololo of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association demanding the resignation of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Gololo had stated that Saraki would be forced out of office if he refused to resign his position immediately.
Reacting, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazak Namdas, expressed shock over the threat.
Speaking with newsmen, he said, “If it is true that Miyetti Allah made the threat on Saraki’s resignation, it is shocking. This is very shocking indeed.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday gave President Muhammadu Buhari “24 hours to arrest leaders” of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association, MACBAN.
Meanwhile, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) to order.
MBF said this in reaction to threat to Senate President, Bukola Saraki by an official of association, yesterday.
MACBAN’s Coordinator in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, had stated that Saraki would be forced out of office if he refused to resign his position immediately.
Gololo claimed that Saraki had created numerous problems for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting via a statement, yesterday, MBF Coordinator of Public Communication, Ndi Kato, lamented that the statement was made in Benue where lives and property of countless indigenes have been lost to attacks by herdsmen.
It reads: “As a result of these targeted attacks on Benue and most states in the Middle Belt, our region is knee deep in a mismanaged humanitarian crisis spanning several states.
“This threat by the leadership of Miyetti Allah is not only insulting, it is inciting and we believe, issued with the intention to heat up the polity.
“The Middle Belt Forum has observed the consistency with which leaders of Miyetti Allah expend inciting statements on national issues well beyond their reach and we are at the juncture where we must stand firm and insist Enough Is Enough! Miyetti Allah must be called to order!
“Nigerians cannot understand the root of this audacity by Miyetti Allah to pour fuel on national issues from the heavy loss of human lives in several parts of our nation to sensitive political issues.
“Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki is not only the Senate President but the highest office holder in the Middle Belt.
“A threat to his office by non-political actors is a threat to democracy; a threat to his person is a threat to the leadership of our region.
“The entire Middle Belt is currently grappling for stability in the midst of chaos, land grabbing and mass killings.
“We call on well-meaning Nigerians to rebuke such statements and the intentions behind them as these are direct threats to our democracy.
“We call on our national security agencies to in the interest of national peace and stability, invite Alhaji Garus Gololo for questioning.
“Finally, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to put his foot down against such rhetoric in the interest of our nation.”
Similarly, the Arewa Youth for Peace and Security has advised the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to focus on helping to stop the killings, rather than getting involved in partisan politics.
The National President of the group, Salisu Magaji, gave the advice in a statement issued, yesterday in Abuja.
Magaji expressed concern over a statement credited to Garus Galolo, the Benue State Chairman of the association, asking Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to resign from office or he would be forced to do so.
He noted that Saraki was elected by senators and only two-thirds of the entire lawmakers could remove him from office as stipulated by law.
“They should restrict themselves to the constitution of Miyetti Allah. Saraki is a Nigerian and he remains the President of the Nigerian Senate as elected by the senators.”
Magaji wondered if the association was now a political group to be talking about forcing Saraki out of office.
“Do they not know he was elected as the Senate President by senators and that only two thirds of the entire senators can remove him from office as stipulated by the constitution of Nigeria?
“We would like to think that this chairman of Miyetti Allah in Benue State does not understand the rudiments and essence of politics.
“So, let him concentrate on how to stop the killings in Benue State and desist henceforth, from talking about politics because Miyetti Allah is not a political group.
“He should desist from heating up an already fragile polity. Our laws are clear on how to remove a sitting Senate President.
“This attempt at resorting to unconstitutional means, as advocated in some quarters, does not mean well for our democracy and ultimately, the stability of our nation,” Magaji said.