The leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Southeast zone, has congratulated Nigerians on the celebration of 63 years independence anniversary and called for peaceful co-existence and harmonization of suitable policies to enhance the economy.
The MACBAN southeast zonal chairman and leader of the Fulani community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, made the call in Awka, the state capital and urged the masses to always expect light at the end of the tunnel.
Presenting his goodwill message to Nigerians, he said, “Allah has endowed us as a nation with both natural and human resources, we have the biggest population in Africa, which means we are capable of becoming the biggest market in Africa.
“We have the most brilliant and creative youth in Africa, our cultural diversity is unique and we are the leading tourist destination in Africa.
“I want to reiterate that this is the time when the world is in great need of collaboration and harmony among different faiths and ideologies. We as Nigerians are part of this global village. If one person in a house is not at peace, the whole family becomes distressed; if one house in a neighbourhood is disturbed, it can affect the whole society and it will not stop there.
“Everything is linked with one another, but peace starts at the smallest level. We need to start with our community, our neighbours and our families. We should all unite and work together to move our nation forward.”
Alhaji Siddiki lauded the governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo on the recent announcement and outright implementation of free education in the State.
While disclosing that children from his community are also beneficiaries, he thanked the governor for making them feel at home and doing business in the State.
He also appealed to the governor to set up a committee that will fashion out modalities to bring lasting peace to the communities in conflict with the Fulani herders in their areas.
Siddiki warned his subjects to always inform him before relocating to any community in the State, call him if they are experiencing difficulties and relate well with the indigenes.
The MACBAN Southeast leader further appreciated the state commissioner of police, Aderemi Adeoye, for his constant and apt intervention in communal crisis between the Anambra indigenes and the Fulanis, especially the recent unrest in Ukwulu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the State.
He called on Fulani and Hausa residents in the State and all the people of Anambra to unite and move the State forward.
Speaking on the recent Eid- el-Maulud celebration, Alhaji Siddiki emphasized that every Muslim has a role to play in the process of establishing a better life for all the people living together as members of society, regardless of whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.
“Islam urges Muslims to be active and even proactive in any society they reside in.
“Muslims have to be positive and have to participate in public life in a way that enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil. In addition, Muslims should coope rate with their brothers and sisters and other religious bodies in commanding good and prohibiting evil, in seeking religious knowledge, and in promoting all the virtues that Islam advocates.
“The task of moving Nigeria to the dreamland should be collective. We shouldn’t fold our arms as citizens, expecting only our leaders to perform the miracles, we have a huge role to play,” he concluded.
