Tiv Youth Organization (TYO) said they are disappointed with the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate Bola Tinubu for striking a deal with Miyetti Allah to meet all their demands if they support him.
The youth group in a statement signed by its President General Worldwide, Timothy Hembaor, said Benue will resist the plan to capture ancestral lands in Benue for the militia group.
The statement reads: “Tiv Youth Organization (TYO) were unbelievably shocked and disappointed to read a statement from the national secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal, Saleh Hassan that they have struck a deal with the APC presidential candidate, Alh. Bola Tinubu that he will support their long term agenda of conquest, if elected president of Nigeria, come 2023.
“It is on record that Bola Tinubu met with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Minna, Niger State and promised to meet all the demands of the milita group, if they support his bid for power in the elections coming up next year.
“In a press conference, reported by the Punch newspaper, the group’s national secretary explained that they endorsed the former Lagos State Governor because he promised to address the issue around the Livestock Intervention Programme and the retrieval of the 450 grazing routes across the country.
“It will be recalled that Bola Tinubu just recently announced that he would begin from where Muhammadu Buhari stops, if he wins the presidency. It is good to know that Tinubu has not hidden his plan to give us Buhari, hook line and sinker. Our duty is to tell our people and other Nigerians to beware, gird up their loins and prepare for a long battle for their survival. The APC presidential candidate is in bed with their worst enemy.
“More worrisome is the fact that in Benue State, the Coordinator of the APC presidential campaign who is a reverend father has inadvertently sent similar signals (through his public utterances) of a thick conspiracy to deprive the people of their lands. He has been romancing with enemies of the state for many months now.
“It is disturbing that a party and its presidential candidate would hold a meeting with a group which has been rated the third most violent and vicious terrorist organisation in the world. It is one of the sticking points in this country that the regime of Muhammadu Buhari has pointedly refused to declare Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore a terrorist organisation in complete disdain of the United Nations, the United States and the European Union.
“Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shetima announced some time ago that if elected, he will be in charge of the country’s security while the president will handle the economy. Nigerians were yet to recover from the shock of that bizarre statement when Shetima again declared war against restructuring of the country! He said to hell with the idea of restructuring! For someone who has been accused as chief sponsor of terrorism, Shetima only confirmed what we have already known that he and Tinubu are undertakers waiting to perform the final interment of Nigeria.
“Let it be noted that as the umbrella organization of Tiv youths worldwide, we have nothing personal against Bola Tinubu. We are however concerned about who has the interest of our people at heart or not. We will not vote for someone who will take our lands and hand to terrorists. We are ready to be the children of our ancestors. The Sokoto jihad started this way in the 19th century but it failed. The Fulani could not overrun Tiv land and the progress we have made is enough to enable us to hold the line of defense drawn by our courageous forebears.
“The manner we have survived Buhari’s presidency which has been fashioned to bring harm to our doorsteps must tell Tinubu about our determination to face any odds. No other nationality has been harangued by the Nigerian state like what has happened to us, yet we still hold our heads high.
“At least, we are still feeding Nigeria even though going to the farm in Benue State has become a game of Russian roulette. Buhari’s kinsmen who are enjoying his support, have hunted the Tiv like game since 2015.
“The people of Benue and other Nigerians will rise and reject the grazing routes Tinubu has promised Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. The design to turn Nigeria into an emirate will never see the light of day.
“Naturally, the Tiv are in Central Nigeria and while grazing routes can be established up north, the routes will not be allowed to pass through Benue State. We are sure that our brethren from the south east will support us to resist the evil genie that is knocking on our doors.
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“Bola Tinubu must know that the quest to divide our land to offer safe passage to marauding Fulani may be the final straw that will bury his presidential ambition. He will have to kill every Tiv person to make it happen in our land.
“Lastly, we must not fail to sound it loud and clear to those campaigning for Tinubu and Miyetti Allah in Benue State that our people are waiting for them at the polls. The 2023 elections in Benue State will be a vote for our survival! Our enemies have come out to show their faces and we will roundly reject them and their “apostles” in the state!”
