Edo Election: Oshiomhole To Meet Miyetti Allah Leaders On Tuesday, Plots RUGA Settlement For Nine Edo LGs, Group Alleges
A socio-political group, the One Nigeria Movement (ONM) has accused
the immediate past National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole of plotting to concede lands in some
Local Government areas in Edo State to the Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for the establishment of the
controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements for Fulani
herdsmen.
According to a statement on Saturday, by its Convener General, Ahmed
Sodiq-Mugoro and Secretary, Babatunde Aliyu, ONM alleged that a
meeting was scheduled for next week Tuesday in Abuja between
Oshiomhole and leaders of Miyetti Allah.
The ONM, which said it was compelled to raise the alarm over
Oshiomhole’s desperate bid to deliver Edo State at all cost,
disclosed that “support of the Miyetti Allah to the governorship
candidate of the APC, Pastor Ize Iyamu, was being seen by Oshiomhole
as very key, most especially because of his (Oshiomhole) vice
presidential ambition.”
The group disclosed that the meeting will be attended by Miyetti
Allah’s National President and Secretary, Bello Bodejo and Saleh
Alhassan, respectively while Oshiomhole will be accompanied by a
chieftain of the APC from Yobe State, whose identity is yet to be
known.
Purpose of this meeting is to seek the support of the Cattle Breeders
Association in mobilising herdsmen to be used to disrupt the September
19, 2020 elections in areas where the APC is seen as weak.
Also, Miyetti Allah is expected to mobilise its members in Kogi,
Kwara and Edo States for the election, with Voters Cards to be made
available for them for use, especially in Akoko Edo area of the State.
In return, Oshiomhole is expected to pledge support of Edo State
under Pastor Ize-Iyamu, for the establishment of RUGA and the Miyetti
Allah Vigilante Group, with provision of lands in nine local
governments in the State, particularly within the Benin Kingdom.
Describing the plot as evil, the ONM, called on leadership of the
Miyetti Allah to reject the plot to use its members as thugs to
manipulate election, saying “killings, kidnappings and other criminal
acts are already being attributed to herdsmen and it will not augur
well for the image of the cattle breeders association for its members
to be used to perpetrate electoral crimes in Edo or any other State.”
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