Sultan Asks MACBAN To Address Challenges Of Pastoralists

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has told the new executives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), that there is need to address emerging challenges faced by pastoralists in the country.

The Sultan gave the reminder on Thursday in Abuja, at the inauguration of the 23 newly elected National Executives of MACBAN, who will steer the affairs of the association in the next four years.

Sultan, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association, said that all the executives were subjected to drugs-test by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before they became eligible to contest for the various positions.

“MACBAN by its reach across entire Nigeria and the Sahel should aspire to be a balance factor to the instability in Nigeria and across the Sahel.

”MACBAN could do this in articulating a Fulbe perspective in response to the present level of violence as a natural reaction to deprivation, marginalisation and balkanisation of the Fulbe into different nation states in West Africa,” NAN quoted the Sultan.

He, therefore, enjoined the executives of MACBAN along with Fulbe CSOs, NGOs and stakeholders to come up with an education policy that recognises and reflects the peculiar requirements of the Fulbe in the knowledge driven 21st century.

Abubakar also emphasised the need for an urgent review of the MACBAN’s constitution, adding that that the constitution of the association was due for review after 47 years of existence.

He, therefore, appointed retired Justice Lawal Gummi, the Emir of Gummi, in Zamfara to assemble a team of legal talents within the Fulbe community to assist him undertake the review of the constitution of the association.

Speaking at the event, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe asked the association to adopt new approach towards addressing the recurring farmers-herders clashes.

“Injustice was the major factor responsible for incessant clashes between farmers and herders in some parts of the country.”

He commended the Sultan for his sustained efforts in repositioning the association and his invaluable contributions to lasting peace and stability in the country.

On his part, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Muhammad Abubakar, promised to partner the new executives of MACBAN, saying that it was the responsibility of the ministry to work with the leadership of the association.

”We have a lot of programmes at the ministry. The ministry is not just for farming, but it is also for livestock production.

“So, I will like to extend an invitation to you so that we can sit together and chat a new course for livestock rearing in Nigeria.”

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected National President of MACBAN, Baba Ngelzarma, called on all the contestants, members of the association and other pastoralists’ organisations to partner with him in serving the pastoralists community.

”It is absolutely necessary for us to come together and forge a formidable team to address the peculiar crises facing pastoralists in the country,” he appealed.

Ngelzarma asssured that the new leadership would strive to amplify the voice of pastoralists through robust engagements with the media and by developing various platforms to bridge the gap that currently exists.