Igbos ask herdsmen to follow Buhari’s footsteps
– An Igbo group has asked cattle breeders to acquire lands like President Muhammadu Buhari did in Daura, Kastina state
– The group urged the herdsmen to attach some seriousness to their business
– The group called on Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to see agriculture as a business that demands considerable investment and responsibility
A group, the Igbo Intelligentsia Forum has called on cattle breeders all over Nigeria to follow the footsteps of the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari by acquiring ranches.
In an open letter addressed to President Buhari and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the Igbo group said the herdsmen must take their cattle business serious by acquiring ranches for the animals.
President Buhari while declaring his asset said he has a ranch in Daura, Kastina state and 150 cows among other listed property.
“We urge the members of the Miyetti Allah to see agriculture as a business that demands considerable investment and responsibility, we recommend that investors in cattle breeding take a page from the poultry industry by acquiring ranches as your Excellency did in Daura,” the group said.
The letter signed by Joe Ikunna and Katch Ononuju, the coordinator and the secretary of the group said the Nigeria government must not allow the business interests of MACBAN to undermine national security.
READ ALSO: Grazing Bill: Cows for Buhari are more important than human lives – Nigerians
“The government must not allow the business interests of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), a trade association with membership in the civil service, politics and other Fulani investors clash against and undermine national security and corporate well-being of Nigeria,” the letter said.
The group also condemned the push by members of the Miyetti Allah at the National Assembly to appropriate lands from various communities to aid and profit its members at the expense of national security.
“We trust that Your Excellency as a patron of Miyetti Allah will encourage members of the association and other investors in cattle breeding and husbandry to take more responsibility in their private business in which them as investors own 100% of the profits,” it said.
The National Assembly has begun deliberation on a bill titled the grazing bill which seeks to provide grazing route for herdsmen in Nigeria.
The bill also seeks to establish a commission that will be empowered to take land in any part of Nigeria for use ads grazing reserve.
However, on the arrival of the bill, many Nigerians including the former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the bill.
Fani-Kayode in one of his opinion piece said the bill is the greatest evil by all.
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