However, a rival group, the Miyyetti Allah cattle breeders association of Nigeria on March 22, Sunday, disassociated itself from what it called the “a purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan”.
According to Premium Times, the national youth leader of the group, Adamu Mohammed, in a press release issued after an emergency meeting of the cattle breeders association said the group that endorsed the president was different from theirs.
He said: “The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore led by one Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo is a cultural organization which exists in only one state of the federation and therefore cannot speak on our behalf on any national issues because they are not representing all Fulani’s in the country.
“Therefore, we want to disassociate the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria from the statement credited to the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that they have endorsed certain political candidates in the forthcoming elections.
“MACBAN is not part of the endorsement since we are not a political association, but an organized group whose aim and objectives was to protect the interest of Fulani’s all over the country and beyond.”
He noted that the group’s membership includes the Sultan of Sokoto as Grand Patron, as well as the Emir of Kano, Emir of Zazzau, Lamido of Adamawa and Emir of Katsina as members of the Board of Trustees.
This is not the first time prominent groups in the North would be divided over Jonathan’s re-election bid.
In September 2014, the Arewa Consultative Forum had accused the president of a deliberate plan to emasculate the North economically and divide the region politically.
But another group of northern elders, on the platform of the Northern Elders Council countered the position of the ACF, accusing the group of playing the opposition card.
