By Akinwale Kasali
A Fulani Group from the Fulbe Communities of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately caution and call the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike to order if he wants to enjoy their continue support.
The Group said this during its Zonal and National Consultative Meeting Monday at the NICON Luxury Hotel Abuja. Over 33,360 Ardos who are the Traditional and Spiritual Leaders of the specific Fulbe Communities in Nigeria lamented how the Government under President Tinubu is on an ethnic profiling of many Nigerian tribes, groups, and individuals, especially the Fulani.
The Ardos said the Fulbe are at the receiving end of the brunts of ethnic profiling through the draconian policies and anti-people decisions by Wike.
They alleged that he has been unleashing series of draconian policies on them.
Speaking at a Press Briefing after their exhaustive meeting, the National President of the Ardos, Aliyu Yola, said they had mobilized Fulbe in millions and cast their votes for President Tinubu during the February 25th, 2023, Presidential Election after they had a meeting with him prior to the 2023 Presidential Election.
Yola boasted that the massive voting of the Fulbe in their millions all across the country through vigorous campaigns led to his emergence as President.
He recalled how the Fulbes had a meeting with Tinubu on a cold February evening on the campaign train where he spent quality time interacting with Ardos across the country towards a national movement that ensured massive votes for his candidacy within the Fulani community in Nigeria.
“It is with utmost pride that we recount the huge success recorded at the polls in 2023.” Ardo Aliyu said
He worried that the appearance of Wike from the blues to champion the course of the FCT has made the ethnic profiling of the Fulbe worrisome.
He stated that in recent times, Wike came out with a draconian policy against herdsmen and grazing without providing any alternative as is done in civilized clime.
He added that the unconstitutional revocation of the contract agreement being handled by their Patron, Senator Ahmad Abubakar Moallayidi, Managing Director of Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd, IFMSL, and Managers of the International Conference Center, ICC, Abuja was uncalled for.
He said the unwise decision by Wike on their kinsman was a pure show of ethnic profiling against the group that supported, and did a yeoman job for his emergence as the sitting President of Nigeria.
“Our recent concern is the onslaught of the FCT Minister’s unilateral, unconstitutional impunity with which he pronounced a revocation of the management contract of our patron Sen. Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi who is also the convener of Arewa New Agenda (ANA).
“This profiling is contrary to the promise made by Mr President on the campaign trail where he assured the FULBE of fair hearing and promotion of the welfare of the FULBE alongside other Nigerians
“The targeting of our Patron, Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi by the Minister is a slap on our face, and we are very concerned that the action of the Minister is putting a wedge in the support we give to you Mr President.
“The Minister did not follow due process and a subsisting contract was illegally revoked by a newspaper publication; this injustice, impunity, and character assassination against our patron is something that cannot be accepted in a democratic society, he said
He alleged that Wike is unnecessarily causing great havoc to this administration because he had little or no knowledge at all who is Senator Moallayidi and the huge contributions he made to support the winning election of President Tinubu.
He said: “Where was Wike when our patron Senator Ahmad MoAllahyidi mobilized the Ardos and hosted the then presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu accompanied by the Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, the NSA, Mal Nuhu Ribadu, the APC Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Deputy Senate President, Sen Jibril Barau, minister of Defence Abubakarar Badaru, the NAHCON Chairman, Barr. Jalal Arabi, the SA to the VP, Aliyu Umar Modibo, among other prominent leaders of the current administration at the same International Conference Center ICC to make a pact with the Fulbe leading to the resounding success at the polls.
“We all know that Minister Wike was then and still is in the opposition party, proudly a card-carrying member of PDP, and what is doing is more of fighting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by calling Minister Wike to order and demanded that Wike be compelled at all times to follow due process in whatever is doing.
Aliyu who spoke on behalf of the Ardos further demanded that the FCT Minister desist from profiling the Fulbe group or any group of people or individuals, especially those who have worked to bring the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be.
In their demands also they asked President Tinubu to intervene by stopping Minister Wike from shutting down the ICC and tempering with the lawful contract agreement the IFMSL has which has a ten-year life span.
“We remind the President to fulfill the promises he made to the Fulbe regarding the setting of a livestock agency to cater for the migrant cattle rearers, to make the name of the Fulani a very respectable name and provide social welfare for them alongside other Nigerians.
“We are concerned that such an onslaught on our leaders is a direct repudiation of the effort that we contributed to bringing your administration to power. We kindly urge you to use your good office to call Minister Wike to order or remove him from the office he occupies to avoid the negative impact he is creating for your administration.
“We look forward to your very positive intervention as we continue to pledge our support and loyalty for the continuing success of the Barkindo of Fulbe Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR as you lead this great country of a good people.” He demanded
He however said that the entire Ardos of the Fulbe United for Peace and Development commend the effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose administration is providing good leadership for the country, and also appreciated him for the giant strides he is making in leading the country.
They however pledged continued support and loyalty to the President of their demands are met.
