Terrorists have taken over Nigeria – Ohanaeze backs Pastor Bakare

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Terrorists have taken over Nigeria – Ohanaeze backs Pastor Bakare

Igbo apex socio-cultural and political organization, Ohanaeze, has backed Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly on his claim that Nigeria was under siege.

Bakare, while addressing his congregants during church service on Sunday, noted that terrorists, kidnappers and killer herdsmen were now in charge of Nigeria.

Media and Information Adviser to the President General of Ohanaeze, Emeka Attamah, told Vanguard that Bakare was “right because terrorists are really in charge of whatever is happening now in Nigeria.

“If terrorists are not in charge, why should officials of this government negotiate with leaders of Miyetti Allah who are demanding N100 billion to enable its members stop killing Nigerians?”

“I am not even sure that they have not paid the money. I would not like to be quoted as saying that all the officials of this government are terrorists but I never knew that Nigeria would descend to this level of open brigandage. It has never happened before.

“There is nowhere in the world where the government is in tacit understanding with terrorist organisations.

“Governments usually fight to eliminate terrorists and not to encourage them.

“The Nigerian government should face terrorists and treat them as such and not to eat or dine with them,” he said.

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Miyetti Allah: Presidency replies Ohanaeze on alleged payment of N100b to bandits, kidnappers

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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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Ohanaeze warns Buhari govt against appeasing Miyetti Allah with ‘N100bn’ to stop killing

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Ohanaeze warns Buhari govt against appeasing Miyetti Allah with ‘N100bn’ to stop killing

The apex Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has reacted to reports alleging that the Federal Government was plotting to “appease” the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, with a huge sum of money.

Deputy spokesperson of Ohanaeze, Chuks Ibegbu has warned against such move.

Following the meeting between MACBAN and a delegation of the Federal Government last week, reports had it that government plans to release the sum of N100bn to the group to set up cattle ranges.

The move was reported to be aimed at putting an end to the persistent crisis between farmers and herdsmen.

However, Ibegbu stated that those who directly or indirectly caused insecurity across the country should not be compensated using public funds.

A statement personally signed by Ibegbu reads: “We want to warn against any financial deal with the Miyetti Allah Association in the wake of the rumour that the federal Government want to allot some huge amount of money to them to partner with Security agents to fight insecurity in the country.

“In as much as Miyetti Allah can turn a new leaf and help to ameliorate the insecurity its member contribute to, we are against using public funds to achieve this.

“Those who directly or indirectly cause insecurity in the country should not be compensated for doing so. Else the federal government should as well involve and pay armed robbers to help check armed robbery in Nigeria.”

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