The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has admitted being a patron of umbrella body of cattle breeders, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
In an interview with The Punch published on Sunday, the traditional ruler also disclosed that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and a few other Northern tradition rulers are also patrons of the group.
He said , “As I understand it when Miyetti Allah was first set up , they requested a few Fulani emirs to be their patrons in their capacity as emirs . The first grand patron was Sultan Abubakar III and he was replaced by successive sultans – Dasuki , Maccido and Saad Abubakar now .
“ Other patrons were emir of Kano , Lamido of Adamawa and emirs of Zazzau and Katsina, I believe . So , my predecessor was a patron and on my ascension to the throne, I became a patron. This is all nominal.
“ To the best of my knowledge , Miyetti Allah has never been involved in acts of violence and has always condemned violence and called on its members to eschew violence.
“ It is, however, committed to protecting the fundamental rights of herdsmen as Nigerians including constitutional right to freedom of movement and the ownership of private wealth and peaceful conduct of their business . ”
The identity of the group’s patrons has been a subject of controversy after a splinter group Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore allegedly orchestrated the murder of dozens of people in Guma and Logo LGAs of Benue State.
A member of the Northern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo had accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of being a patron and financier of the group.
Atiku vehemently denied the allegation and demanded a retraction and N200 billion damages as conditions for not seeking legal redress against Unongo.
Sanusi also described allegations in various quarters that Fulani herdsmen were trying to take over the country as a “daft argument”, saying desertification in the North had increased competition for resources, prompting herdsmen to turn southward.
“Grazing routes have been taken way by politicians . We have demographic implosion in the North, desertification , reduction in water reserves and competition for resources among various aspects of agriculture – crop production , animal husbandry and fishing .
“ What we see is the failure of political authority , the cynical manipulation of ethnic identity by failed governments and the impotence of our security machinery . Instead of being dragged into a debate on whether Fulani are trying to take over peoples land – which is a daft argument – let us try and bring some intelligence into this discussion on weak governance rather than emotions . ”