The Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to choose between leading Nigeria or Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association.
The group also ridiculed Mr. Buhari for reacting “irresponsibly” to the massacre of innocent men, women and children by herdsmen in Plateau State.
It vowed never to allow any public-funded cattle ranch to be established in the Yoruba land.
These were parts of the communique issued after the group’s General Assembly, held on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo State.
In the communique signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said it was devastated by the genocide in the North-central state of Plateau.
“Three months ago, we did say that the president is afflicted by conflict of interests as Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is the affliction that has seen him now functioning as a Miiyetti Allah godfather at a time he should be presidential. We asked him and we are calling on him to make a choice between the two,” the communique stated.
The group said the wanton killings and official irresponsibility of government portrayed Nigeria as a barbaric entity.
“We Yoruba people are pained living in the same space with the bestial elements who kill innocent people in cruel manner,” the group stated.
“The images of little children killed mercilessly with open skulls make anyone with human blood flowing in his or her veins to shrink.
“We are further distressed that the response of President Buhari to the murder of hundreds of our citizens did not attract a word of sympathy or regret.
“It is very infuriating that the President’s response and that of Miyetti Allah appeared to have been authored from the same laptop.”
Afenifere drew attention to statements credited to the Chairman of North- central zone of Miyetti Allah, Danladi Ciroma, who said the attacks were retaliation for the loss of 300 cows.
It quoted Mr. Ciroma to have said, “The attacks are retaliatory …. Those who carried out the attacks must be on revenge mission.
“Fulani herdsmen have lost over 300 cows in the last few weeks. Since these cows were not found, no one should expect peace in the areas.”
Afenifere lamented that Mr. Buhari, who is also the grand patron of Miyetti Allah, always describes herdsmen terror as “herdsmen/farmers” clashes with dead bodies found only on one side.
It criticised the president for rehashing Miyetti Allah’s narrative of missing cows in the face of over one hundred persons who were murdered by herders.
The group wondered that even after the state Governor, Simon Lalong, had met with aggrieved parties and pleaded for peace, retaliation was staged barely 48 hours later.
“The President used the word ‘thugs’ thrice to describe protesting residents while admitting that human life was becoming ‘increasingly cheap’ under his watch without saying what he is doing to make it worthy or bring the herdsmen who have admitted killing people to book.
“He also repeated the blame game of ‘desperate people causing instability and chaos,’ in furtherance of the vain attempt by the administration to divert attention from Fulani herdsmen responsible for the serial murders,” the group stated.
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Afenifere said it is pointless to ask the administration to stop the killings but advised Nigerians to pray for the repose of those killed on June 28 and declare July 1 as a national prayer day .
It urged Nigerians to prepare to uproot the administration come 2019, noting that no country where the blood of innocent people is shed daily can progress.
The group restated the call for the restructuring of the country, describing the move as a national agenda.
Continuing, it stated, “We say without any reservation to Mr President that the call for restructuring is a selfless call borne out of the need to retrieve Nigeria from the brink of collapse and put it back on track.
“If the President talks about people with personal agenda on restructuring, it can only be those who insert it in their manifestos to win elections and turn around to say they are getting different definitions of restructuring after they came to power.”
It described public-funded ranching as an imperialist agenda of cresting Federal Cattle Territories across Nigeria, adding that cattle rearing is a private business and should not involve government.
“No inch of Yoruba land will be available for such and no governor should cede any land for such,” the group insisted.
