NEWS
Miyetti Allah: Presidency
replies Ohanaeze on alleged payment of N100b to bandits, kidnappers
The Presidency has described as an ‘absolute
falsehood’ the allegation that the Federal Government gave N100billion to
Miyetti Allah, an association of Fulani herders, for ‘dubious reasons’.
Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in
Abuja on Friday.
The presidential aide was reacting to
comments credited to Ohaneze Ndigbo and Afenifere, who expressed concern about
the meeting between the government and Miyetti Allah.
He said: “We are pleased that Afenifere and
Ohaneze Ndigbo found our insights worthy of attention even when they disagreed
with our view that they, as socio-cultural associations, represent same
interests as Miyetti Allah, an association of Fulani herders.
“Miyetti Allah, like any other trade,
community, ethnic organization or interest group is a legal stake holder in our
nation and should be respected.
“We maintain that the government needs to
engage all stakeholders and seek partnership in building our country.
”The activities of Miyetti Allah do not
benefit selected ethnicities or Muslims only, but everyone.
“Long before petroleum became the core of
Nigerian economy, agriculture was the main source of Nigerian wealth. Cattle,
hides and skin were a major part of Nigerian export.
“It is right to state that there are
criminals among every group in Nigeria and in every country. There are
criminals among the northern population as there are in the southern part of
the country.
“It is not good to generalise blames. The
government will engage each stakeholder and create dialogue between, and among,
different groups.”
Shehu, therefore, maintained that both
socio-cultural groups should not have insisted that government should not to talk
to Miyetti Allah.
He added that the meeting was necessitated by
”the need to address and engage Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, cultural and
economic plurality that was evident when General Yakubu Gowon introduced
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“The need to engage all groups of Nigeria is
as much relevant today as it was then.
“The Presidency’s position is that President
Buhari’s government is equipped to address these issues.”
According to him, the security challenges
faced by Nigeria today make the task of addressing the issues very urgent.
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The
wife and child of a reporter with the Voice of America, VOA, Malam
Nasir Birnin-Yero,who were kidnapped, have regained freedom.