A Fulani professional group, Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, COFPIA, has dissociated itself from a statement issued by Alhaji Alhasan Salah, National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which claimed that Fulani nation would not support the candidature of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election.
Alhasan had described Obi as a tribal bigot, someone who hates the North and, by extension, the Fulani tribe. He said that Miyetti Allah has instructed all the Fulanis across the country not to vote for Obi because “Obi is a tribal bigot and represents the Biafran interest which would not favour the Fulani nation in Nigeria.”
The Fulbe professional group, in a statement, Monday, by Prof. Mohammed Gidado, its National President and Hajiya Mairo Modibo, National Secretary, countered Miyetti Allah.
The group in its reaction said that Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore did not speak for Fulani ethnic group or represent the Fulani in any way. It said that tackling the issues in Nigeria and matters of election have “gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments,” Vanguard reported.
The group said that it would “mobilise and enlighten Fulani young and old in every RUGA and town to sensitize our people so as not to be deceived by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and its like,”
“Our attention has been drawn to a sectional, unpatriotic, ungodly and senseless statement credited to one of our brothers, Alhajji Hassan Saleh, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the most controversial Fulani group in Nigeria, which no doubt is responsible for the bad name Fulani nation has been branded with in Nigeria.
“The Fulbe all over Nigeria will not be bound by that politically-sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah anymore.
“The Fulani people are wise now and cannot be used as tools of extortion and religious sentiment any more.
“We will enlighten our people to vote for competence and capacity come 2023. We will never vote for any candidate who has nothing to offer. We have gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments.
“We will vote for a president that will tackle poverty, and acute hunger that have held our people hostage for so long.
“We will vote for a president that will fight insecurity with every commitment and unbiased mind, no matter who is in involved,” the statement read.
The group said, “Our respected tribal group, Miyette Allah, should channel their campaign to redeem the bad image they have created for Fulani people in Nigeria rather than casting aspersions on Peter Obi, who has demonstrated capacity to rescue Nigeria from the current hopelessness.
“We wish to also make it categorically clear that we have not endorsed Peter Obi or any presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections and we are not Peter Obi’s mouthpiece.
“But it’s wrong for our people to continue to brand Peter Obi as a tribal bigot and that he doesn’t like the North.
“Available data has shown Peter Obi as an ardent nationalist that believes in the unity of Nigeria.
“We, therefore, call on our brothers in the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, to only speak for their group, rather than misleading Nigerians that they are speaking for the entire Fulani people.
“They lack the moral, spiritual, and religious rights to speak for the entire Fulani people in Nigeria, especially when they have reduced themselves to tribal bigots that has no regards for other tribes and faiths.
“Nigerians have taken position in the forthcoming election to vote for the best man for the job and cannot be distracted by any selfish agenda and blackmail.
“As campaigns start, we shall mobilise and enlighten Fulani young and old in every RUGA and town to sensitize our people so as not to be deceived by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and its like,” the statement added.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
