By Afolasade Owotutu, Abeokuta
The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association, has thrown its support behind the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that, only the APC can protect the interest of pastoralists in the country.
President of the group, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, made this known at a rally organised to endorse the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, as well as the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, in Lafia, on Friday.
Badejo said the members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore strongly believed that, the interest of the pastoralists will best be represented under the APC, as such Fulani from across the 36 states of the country gathered in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State, to endorse Bola Tinubu and Engineer Sule, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The national leadership of the Miyetti Allah explained that, they have extensively discussed with the leadership of the ruling APC, regarding the challenges confronting pastoralists in the country and have been assured that, under the APC, the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), will be implemented.
Bodejo added that, members of the group, were also assured that, the issue of farmer/herder crisis, will be addressed head-on.
He pointed out that, members of his group have confidence that, progress and development, will come by the way of the pastoralists if the APC is giving the needed support to produce the next leadership of the country.
"Our members have come from across the 36 states of the federation to show solidarity and endorse our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima, as our preferred candidate in the forthcoming general elections. We believe the interest of the pastoralists will be based represented under the APC," Bodejo stated.
The Miyetti Allah leader added that, the group is also endorsing the second term bid of Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, because of the proactive steps he has taken to address the herder/farmer crisis.
Bodejo particularly said Miyetti Allah is throwing its support behind Engineer Sule because he was among the first governors to start implementing the NLTP and he has been working assiduously to ensure that sustainable peace between farmers and herders in Nasarawa State is achieved.
"And for that reason, we are expressing our total support and solidarity for him and call on all our Fulani pastoralists in Nasarawa State to give the Governor and his Deputy, total support to ensure that they emerge victorious in the forthcoming election. That is why we are here to show that solidarity openly," he said.
Bodejo assured that, the group will not stop at that, but that it will move from one local government to another, towards ensuring that Engineer Sule and his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, are returned for a second term.
'Across the country, we have mobilized our members to ensure that APC receive total support from our members, who have massively participated in the registration of voters exercise. And we believe, in sha Allah, by the special grace of God, we are going to deliver this mandate," Bodejo assured.
Vice presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Kashim Shettima, who stood in for the presidential candidate of the party, assured members of the Fulani community across the country, that when elected, the APC will improve pastoralism, agriculture and education, which are key concerns of members of the Miyetti Allah.
Senator Shettima recalled that, as governor of Borno State, the records are their to prove that no governor has done what he did to improve the standard of living of the Fulani, assuring that, if elected, the APC will even do more.
The APC vice presidential candidate conveyed the gratitude of President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as that of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for the effort by the group to gather in Lafia to endorse the presidential candidate of the party.
He reassured that, the APC is poised to further improve the living standards of the Fulani across the country.
In his goodwill message, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, urged the Miyetti Allah not to limit its support to only the president and governor but to support all candidates of the APC from top to bottom.
Engineer Sule emphasized that, that is the only way the people can quarantee frictionless leadership under a strong and united APC.
The Governor, who equally invited Tiv leadership from across the state to witness the event, as a demonstration of peaceful co-existence, said Nasarawa State is the first state in the country to implement the NLTP, a project initiated by President Buhari to tackle the lingering farmer/herder conflicts.
"We thank you for the support. By the grace of God, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, will be sworn-in on May 29, 2023. In the same manner, A. A Sule and his Deputy will be sworn-in here on May 29, 2023.
"This support should not be limited to the presidential candidate and governor but across all the candidates of the APC from top to bottom. This way, we will be able to work together with less friction," he stated.
Earlier, the vice presidential candidate of the party, paid homage to the palace of the Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad (rtd).
The event was witnessed by governors of Kebbi and Jigawa States, National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, as well as the immediate past governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, amongst other top dignitaries.
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