Nigerians have vehemently condemned the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) after one of the leaders of the herders’ organisation issued a statement to forcefully remove Senate President Bukola Saraki if he failed to resign his post.
In an interview with a national daily one Alhaji Garus Galolo, said to be Miyetti Allah’s Benue State coordinator added his voice to the repeated call by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Saraki’s resignation, following his defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Galolo was quoted saying “Saraki ought not to be in office again as Senate President. More so, Saraki has failed to coordinate and organise the National Assembly to offer quality legislation that Nigerians need.
“Nigerians are in dire need of people that have the interest of the masses. Miyetti Allah is looking for a leader that would preside over the affairs of the Senate with ultimate respect for the executive and the judiciary, not someone like Senator Saraki that would always scheme to outdo the Presidency.
“We are tired of Saraki’s style of leadership at the National Assembly. Therefore, we are now warning him to honourably resign his position as president of the Senate or we will force him out.”
Galolo’s partisan position, however, drew intense backlash from Nigerians and several human rights groups.
A pro-democracy group, Movement for Democratic Goals (MDG), has demanded President Muhammadu Buhari call members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (MACBAN) to order over association’s threat against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Reacting made by a leader of the herders, the MDG in a statement issued in Abuja, Wednesday, by its National Coordinator, Aliyu Abdulkareem said it will hold the President whom it described as Patron of Miyetti Allah responsible for any outbreak of violence in the nation.
“The statement credited to the coordinator of the association in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, where he threatened to force the number three citizen of the nation out of office, is not only reckless and irresponsible, it is also highly unfortunate and capable of throwing the nation into turmoil.
“Ordinarily, such threat could have been ignored as a noise of an attention seeking rabble-rouser, but the several bestial activities credited to members of the association in the recent past is a reason not to take the threat with levity.
“It is on record that members of the association don’t just issue a threat, they go all-out to violently fulfill their threats, and it is evident in their recent activities.
“We also strongly believe that he who pays the piper calls the tune, the association only echoed the mindset and plans of their paymasters and those giving them state support.
“As the Patron of the association, President Buhari must call them to order to forestall the outbreak of violence and anarchy in any part of the country. Their threat should not be taken with levity.
“If any crisis breaks out in any part of the country as a result of the threat, we will not hesitate to hold the president and members of the association responsible.
“We will take it further by writing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague to call their attention to the reckless and bestial activities of MACBAN with maximum support from the state,” the group said.
 after one of the leaders of the herders’ organisation issued a statement to forcefully remove Senate President Bukola Saraki if he failed to resign his post.){kind=link}