Southern leaders want Buhari govt to brand Myette Allah, herdsmen as terrorists

Leaders of South East, South West, South-South as well as those from the Middle Belt on Thursday demanded that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari declare Myette Allah and Fulani herdsmen as terrorist groups.

The leaders stated this in Enugu at an event tagged ‘Handshake ‎Across the Niger; a Celebration of Igbo/Yoruba Friendship Beyond Brotherhood’, and organised by a pan Igbo group, Nzuko Umunna.

The leaders, who made the demands sequel to the recent killings in Benue and some other Middle Belt states by Fulani herdsmen, wondered why the North West and North East would be holding other parts of the country, with over 99 million population to ransom, by denying to agree that Nigeria be restructured.

Pointing accusing fingers on President Buhari as the champion of anti-restructuring demand, the leaders said disintegration may not be inevitable should the country not be restructured before the 2019 general elections.

Highlight of the event was the opposition to the restructuring demands by

A group of pro-Biafra women at the event, however, opposed the restructuring demands, and shouted that all they want was immediate disintegration of Nigeria. They said that they are already fed up with Nigeria’s wobbling and injustices.
It took the frantic efforts of the chairman of Local Organising Committee of the event, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, who assured the women that they would soon be allowed to express their anger against last year’s Operation Python Dance, to restore normalcy and allow president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo‎, that was speaking when the protest broke out, to continue his speech.

Among other things, Nwodo said that the Fulani herdsmen are daring the Nigerian unity, saying that it was unfortunate Buhari’s government had refused to declare the herdsmen as a terrorist group.

Also speaking at the event, a leader of Yoruba group and representative of chairman of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said that the meeting was a catalyst for unity of Nigeria which, according to him, the ‘enemies of Nigeria’ do not want to take place.

READ ALSO: Nwabueze suspects hidden agenda for jihad against south as Buhari buys war planes

Further stating that the meeting was not a gang up or a forum for formation of a political party, but a meeting against common oppressors of the progressive Nigerians, he added, “It’s only restructuring that can guarantee your rights in Nigeria. Cheating, injustice and even corruption can only be wiped out through restructuring.

“President Buhari will not do that, instead he has ensured that all military and paramilitary ‎institutions are under his control and he has refused to name herdsmen as terrorists yet he pounced on IPOB that seeks for justice.”

During the meeting, a minute silence was observed for the victims of Benue killing by suspected herdsmen.

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