From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has distanced itself from the speculation that it has given its support to the highest bidder among the candidates for the coming general elections.
Contrary to the speculation, however, the association maintained its position to queue behind the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the coming presidential election, adding that not a dime was given to it for the support and endorsement.
It stated that the endorsement was based on the conviction that Tinubu would protect the interest of the Fulani pastoralists across the country.
The group’s President, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, in a statement, challenged anybody to come out to show proof of any form of inducement.
His words: “The person, who is accusing the APC of giving us money, let him also go and collect his own from the party. Nobody gave us any money. We are not doing it because of money but for the good of the country and our people.
“We want our interest fully captured in areas like creating grazing reserves, cattle routes and tackling other challenges that the Fulani Pastoralists are having in the country, and how we can have a good understanding with APC in the management of Fulani affairs.
“We are not looking for any kobo from anybody. I am the leader of the Association, and if there was any monetary transaction before the endorsement, I would have said so, but there wasn’t anything like that.
“However, anybody who is accusing us of collecting money to endorse the ruling party should prove it. Besides, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Association is not a political party.
“I am the leader of the Fulani and I decided to contact some of our strong members all over the country, including the Fulani Youths when the request for the endorsement came. After several meetings and consultations that lasted for over three months, we decided to follow APC.
“Senator Kashim Shettima, the Vice Presidential candidate, and the National Chairman of the party, Senator Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, had come to our office to seek our support and that was why we endorsed them.
“If you are in your house and somebody looks for direction to your house and implores your support, you will welcome him and follow him after listening. We have to follow them because they recognized us,” he explained.
