Miyetti Allah should meet with ‘fishers, farmers, goat breeders, poultry farmers’, not us- Ohanaeze

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has given reasons for shunning the roundtable on insecurity in Nigeria called by former head of state, Gen Abdusalam Abubakar.

The group explained that socio-cultural organizations like Ohanaeze, Pandef, Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum should not be lumped together with Miyetti Allah and killer herdsmen.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) comprising pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere; Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Pan-Niger Delta Forum; and the Middle Belt Forum, turned down the invitation to attend a security roundtable.

The roundtable which was held on July 29 and 30 in Niger State was however attended by the leadership of the Miyetti Allah and some other prominent Nigerians.

In a statement on Wednesday by its deputy publicity secretary, Ohanaeze said that “We are not against Gen Abubakar’s move to end the insecurity in Nigeria but proper things should be done properly.

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“Apex socio-cultural groups in the country should not be expected to be in the same pedestal with an association of Cattle breeders. Miyetti Allah should have a roundtable with fishers, farmers, goat breeders, poultry farmers and artisans who are in same category with them.”

Ohanaeze in the statement further warned countries trying to destabilise Nigeria using religion to desist from such act in their own interest, while it also warned against religious conflict and extremism in Nigeria.

“Whether Arabic, European, Asian or even traditional religionists, we cannot compromise the secularity of Nigeria.

“Where one man’s rights end another man’s own begins, and nobody knows it all in matters of religion.”

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