…Accuses chairman of “bias.”
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
KADUNA STATE: Fulani body, “Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria” (MACBAN), Kaduna State, has called on Kaura LG Chairman, Hon. Sankyal Obadiah Sanko, to listen to the voice of reason to come out clean and apologize publicly to the Fulani in the area and, most especially, to Ardo Hari.
The association, after arising from its meeting, also called on the Council Chairman to as a matter of necessity and equal representation, make, redress and treat everyone as equal, regardless of whether they are Fulanis or Marwa, in the area.
A statement issued, signed and made available to newsmen by the association’s chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa, indicated that it noticed the recent skewed prejudicial handling of security challenges by the LG council chairman, especially when culprits arrested were not of his tribesmen.
“However, we have recently noticed the skewed prejudicial in handling of security challenges by the chairman of Kaura, Hon. Sankyal Obadiah Sanko, especially when culprits arrested were not of his tribesmen,” it stated.
According to Miyetti, on several instances, Hon. Sanko was biased in treatment against the Fulani tribes men completely and hastily branding them as “kidnappers, cattle rustlers and arsonists operating and unleashing mayhem on the people of Southern Kaduna,” describing his action as unfortunate and abound.
“These he does without giving any Fulani arrested the benefit of doubt through careful and meticulous investigation. His blanket characterization of any Fulani as a criminal has shown how shallow and timid his entire outlook on criminality is.
“Many innocent people have suffered tremendously through his misappropriation of justice and fairness. Unknowingly, majority of the major kidnappings and crimes-related offenses perpetrated within the axis were committed by his tribesmen and not the Fulani he so hated with passion,” it stated.
The body further stated that, “In recent times, we have not seen an individual that so much hates the Fulani with immense vile and passion like the Chairman of Kaura Local Government Council. He has neglected his place as custodian of public safety, and instead become a tribal warlord.
“Imperatively, the recent arrest of some brutal and ruthless kidnappings that have been terrorizing and kidnapping of some high-valued individuals in the Southern Kaduna has laid bare the sentimental agony of the chairman.
“The individuals are Christians from Manchok, in Kaura Local Government Area. They revealed chilling and poignant kidnapping they executed from 2013 to date. Not only that, the terrors that have been brutally unleashed on the people were also carried out by his tribesmen.
“But yet, the chairman has been quick to blame the Fulani, while allowing his kinsmen to go scot-free. The men arrested and confessed to the ruthless crimes are Christopher Cheto from Manchok and Jerry Jacob Mai Zafi, also from Manchok.
“Those arrests have poignantly shown that, while his mind is on general characterization of Fulani as the prime suspects, his people are the originals culprits. But because the Fulani does not usually have a voice, he has succeeded in planting the regime of hate and acrimony of the Fulani in the minds of the people of Southern Kaduna, making the cadence that characterize their usual existence difficult.
“Rightfully so, among his punitive and from fisted treatments of the Fulani tribe, one example stands for many. The chairman ruthlessly accused a respected and innocent Fulani leader, Ardo Hari, who is equally the Chairman of Miyetti Allah of Kaura Local Government Area, when he was invited by the Council Chairman for a meeting but later ordered for his arrest as a terror enabler.
“Therefore, he ordered for his arrest and transferred to Operation Safe Haven Headquarters in Jos where he was subjected to harrowing experience for weeks and was later released without evidence of crime or charges.
“That incident was not only inhuman but has shown how low the Council Chairman is thinking. It also presented to the world the true picture of his punitive measures he has been taking against the Fulani,” the statement asserted.
Accordingly, they noted that, “Ardo Hari is not an ordinary man; he is an Institution, who could be used for the promotion of peace and stability in Southern Kaduna and beyond. If that can happen to a leader of men, what is happening to ordinary men can better be imagined.”
Miyetti Allah added that, “Painfully, when the body of the Fulani Ardo and elders were summoned by Mr. Sanko over the arrest of Ardo Hari and other sundry security issues, he insulted, humiliated, and called them unprintable names.
“His polemics and pejorative remarks on the Ardos were a poignant testament to his shallow, bias and jejune mindset that is unbecoming of a progressive leader. Slapping them as terror enablers was against the ethics.
“We, therefore, strongly call on the Council Chairman to as a matter of necessity and equal representation, to make, redress and treat everyone as equal, regardless of whether they are Fulanis or Marwa, as it has clearly shown by the arrest of his kinsmen that the Fulani are not the criminals but major contributors to the socio-economic developments of the Kaura Local Government Area and beyond.
“Rightly so, his people (LG chairman) are discovered to be the purveyors of evil and crimes festering in his constituency. He should, therefore, listen to the voice of reason, to come out clean and apologize publicly to the Fulani in the area and, most especially, to Ardo Hari,” it demanded.
Earlier, the association acknowledged the concerted efforts with the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army, Operation Safe Haven, the robust efforts of the Nigerian Police, NSCDC (Civil Defense), DSS and the other fringe security outfits for their audacity, prompt responses and strategic deployments against the remote and immediate security challenges in the Southern Kaduna Axis.
“We also duly recognize the tireless efforts and consistent response of the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Governor Mal Uba Sani, towards the intractable threats posed by the chilling and cold-hearted actions of the criminal gangs that have held the people hostage in their domains, making livelihood difficult.
“Equally, we also recognize the efforts of the Traditional Leaders of every tribe within the Southern Kaduna enclave for their tiredly response to the collective needs of their peoples, liaising with critical stakeholders in ensuring that the needed peace, security and tranquility are not only ensured but sustained. We are all proud of their accomplishments,” it stated.