The Southern and Middle Belt
Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has pulled out of a roundtable to discuss security
matters.
The forum announced this in a
letter co-signed by Edwin Clark, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, Ayo
Adebanjo, Afenifere leader, John Nwodo, leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Pogu
Bitrus, leader of the Middle Belt Forum.
They cited the invitation of the
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) by the organisers
of the programme as one of the reasons for their withdrawal.
The roundtable scheduled to hold
from July 29 to 30 in Minna, Niger state, is being hosted by Abdulsalami
Abubakar, a former military head of state.
“It was in the thick of our
preparations for the journey that fuller details of the roundtable came to our
attention, some aspect of which has necessitated this last minute communication
with you,” the letter read.
“We observed that the roundtable
will have in attendance all the national security heads, chief of defence staff
and notable Nigerians; underscoring the high level of the dialogue.
“We were comfortable up to that
point until we saw the following: Gan Allah Fulani Development Association,
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.
“While we do not know the members
of the first group, the lumping of Miyetti Allah, a trade association for
cattle herders and whose members have been accused of various violations of
rights, including life, across the country sends worrying signal to us.
“We consider the above a grave
insult on our bodies and our coming to a roundtable with the group would mean
acquiescence to the narrative that put us in the same bracket with those
wielding illegal AK-47 all over the country and inflicting terror on fellow
citizens.”
The leaders said even if the
above were not the case with Miyetti Allah, it would have been inappropriate to
put nationality organisations in the same vehicle with this “trade group as
there are organisations for fishermen, farmers, poultry owners and spare parts
dealers across the country like such who were not invited”.
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