The national body of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has dissociated itself from threatening comments by its state coordinator for Benue.
In an interview with Punch, the coordinator of the association in Benue State, Garus Gololo, had warned the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, to resign or be forced to do so.
“It is on this note that we are saying that 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,” he was quoted as saying.
“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 now 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”, Gololo said, refusing, however, to explain how the association would remove the Senate president,” Punch quoted him as saying.
Reacting, however, the national body of the association said Mr Gololo only spoke for himself.
In a statement signed by its secretary, Othman Ngelzarma, on Wednesday, the association said Mr Gololo’s comments do not reflect the position of the association.
Mr Mgelzarma also confirmed the association’s position to PREMIUM TIMES on phone Wednesday morning.
The statement reads, “The attention of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has been drawn to an interview granted by one Garus Gololo in Makurdi to Punch Newspaper titled ‘Resign or we will force you out’. Miyetti Allah to Saraki. This statement is unfortunate.
“I will categorically state that Garos Gololo spoke in his personal capacity and has no mandate to speak on behalf of the association. Miyetti Allah is a non partisan association with no interest in the political terrain and we couldn’t meddle into the affairs of political actors thereby compounding our already obvious challenges. I therefore urge all and sundry to disregard this statement. This statement is not from MACBAN and should be disregarded in its entirety.”
The group said it would sanction Mr Gololo for making such statement.
“We take exception on this statement and Garos Gololo is entirely on his own and will be sanctioned accordingly. We cannot afford to add up to the many challenges we are confronted with. I’m therefore appealing to the general public to disregard this statement as it is coming from someone who doesn’t have the mandate of the association to speak on its behalf. Thank You and God bless you all.”
Meanwhile, Mr Saraki’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday morning he and his principal would not react to the threat.
“We don’t wat to react to all those. I’m sure that appropriately the PDP will respond,” he said.
Mr Gololo’s voice is the latest in the camp of those calling for the resignation of Mr Saraki as Senate President.
Since his defection from the ruling APC to PDP last month, Mr Saraki has faced calls from the party to relinquish his position.
He has however vowed not to leave the position. In a press conference he addressed two weeks ago, Mr Saraki vowed he would only vacate his seat if two-third of the Senate who elected him decides he quits.
