Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the Fulani socio-cultural group, has given reasons for endorsing the political ambition of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

At a meeting held in Lafia, Nassarawa State, yesterday, President of the association, Bello Bodejo, said that it was to ensure that herders were not sidelined in the scheme of things. He added that it was to also keep the presidential candidate abreast of their previous demands from the Federal government.

He said: “We consulted widely with our people and other stakeholders. We harvested their views, contributions and suggestions and that of other relevant stakeholders before we arrived at the choice.

“But before this time, we had held several meetings with his representatives and also had extensive discussions on the bases and conditions for our support, and both parties were satisfied with the working conditions. So, we are good to go. We would release other necessary information as the need arises.”

He added that members of the group are being mobilised to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) so they can fully participate in the coming elections. He noted that the Political Awareness and Mobilization Directorate of the association has been directed to embark on massive enlightenment campaigns and voters’ education among members.

Bodejo explained the reason for the widespread interest among its members: “Our people have been shortchanged for a very long time when it comes to issues of governance. But we have decided that it would end this time, hence the steps we have taken so far to secure the commitment of those interested in political leadership to issues that concern us.”

He also referred to the decision taken by members of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association at their expanded meeting in Abuja, in late October, where they considered reports submitted from different states on issues concerning their operations in several communities in Nigeria. He said the leadership of the association identified the need for immediate designation, gazetting and development of all the 415 grazing reserves across the states of the federation as one of the strategic steps that could be used to address the challenges confronting Fulani herders.

He added that the NEC suggested other steps like building of earth dams and solar boreholes, building of veterinary clinics and development of diary (milk) collection centres. They also demanded an end to the alleged continuous profiling of Fulani pastoralists in states like Benue and Benue-Nasarawa and Benue-Taraba border communities.

They dismissed the consistent claims of farmers-herders conflicts as major setback to instability and insecurity in Nigeria. They rather attributed the cause of the conflicts to the alleged activities of states-sponsored vigilantes and tribal hordes who wilfully continue to carry out extra-judicial killings of herders.

Sun