Miyetti Allah Is Not Against Peter Obi’s Presidency, Says Zonal Chairman

By Chidi Okenwa (Awka)

Members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have made their position clear that they will not be compelled or cajoled into campaigning against Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour party in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.

The Southeast zonal Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Gidado Soddiki, in a press statement on Wednesday in Awka, Anambra State maintained that on no account would MACBAN speak disparagingly against the person of Mr. Peter Obi, unlike some persons who described the Labour party presidential candidate as tribal bigot.

Soddiki stated that MACBAN was not against any Nigerian president that would pursue unity in diversity and that it would not matter if the next president of the country comes from the Igbo extraction.

The press statement reads, “For some days running now, I have had many worrisome enquiries on why I should speak disparagingly on the person of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023 Nigeria’s presidential election, Mr Peter Obi.

“My surprise, more of worry, at the strange enquiries was however assuaged when I realised that the questions came as a result of the statement a Punch newspaper publication ascribed to the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Mr. Saleh Alhassan, where he described the former governor of Anambra State as ‘tribal bigot’ etc.

“On this, I humbly wish to state that the organisation quoted above is distinct from Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, the affairs of which I superintend over as the Chairman in the South East Zone.

“MACBAN is a trade union and not by any means bound by the political sentiments of any socio-cultural or trade group interests, particularly when such sentiments or interests happen to run contrary to those of our members and are capable of affecting our greater business interests negatively.

“For the purposes of clarification, MACBAN South East Zone which I serve as the Chairman holds no reservation about an Igbo presidency let alone Mr. Peter Obi’s presidential quest.

“Our interest always is in a country that guarantees every Nigerian safety to live and freely do business in any part of it without undue hindrances or risks to their lives and properties. That is the Nigeria MACBAN wants.
“While we choose not to harbour obvious partisan leanings, we evidently do not object to any prospect of good governance that is capable of yielding abundant dividends of democracy to the peoples of Nigeria. Chikena!”