Enugu – The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State truly exhibited a pan-Nigerian spirit in governing the state within his eight years in office.
The National Director-General (Administration) of MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, said this in an address presented after a farewell gathering by MACBAN members in Enugu State to celebrate and honour Gov. Ugwuanyi peaceful strides in Enugu on Tuesday.
Siddiki said that the encounter and interactions with him (Ugwuanyi) by members of the association all this time largely exposed his humaneness and “his live and let live disposition to life”.
According to him, Ugwuanyi truly acknowledges Nigeria as one united entity where citizens are at liberty to live and earn their livelihood wherever they choose, in so far as they are legitimately engaged.
He said: “Your Excellency recognises the fact that the numerous indigenes of Enugu State who are spread across Nigeria geopolitical space in search of decent life should not suffer any fright where they are.
“Your Excellency has therefore dealt kindly with us even in the face of daunting challenges when criminals masquerading as herdsmen infiltrated our camps and caused pains to everyone.
“While our people suffered huge losses in human and material terms from often misdirected provocations, Your Excellency would not and did not fall for the orchestrated plot to demonise a people who for ages have lived in peace with the indigenes”.
He noted that Ugwuanyi had also stood for justice and resisted all efforts to put a blanket profile and stereotype on members of MACBAN; adding: “This stands Gov. Ugwuanyi out as a distinguished leader and a renowned statesman”.
The MACBAN leader said that though the governor made personal sacrifices and suffered obvious discomfort, “posterity will surely be kind to you in reporting your role in holding Enugu State together and keeping Nigeria as one united country”.
“Your Excellency, you have provided leadership of accommodation that allows for understanding, harmony and growth that will be beneficial to the Nigeria that Nigerians dream of.
“For all these stellar attributes of yours, Your Excellency, we gather to honour and celebrate you in our very humble way.
“We only hope that you can pry into the spirit that informed our decision to do this and understand that this is truly a mere token of our wholesome appreciation of your person and your bearing in office. Thank you Your Excellency,” he added.
Siddiki said that the association was hopeful that Ugwuanyi’s successor would treat MACBAN members kindly, assuring that the association would work with the government in tracking marauders in the jungles and making the state safe.
Also speaking, Sarkin Hausawa of Enugu State, Alhaji Abubakar Sambo, who is a gust at the get together to honour Gov. Ugwuanyi, lauded MACBAN for appreciating the governor and publicly having a get-together to celebrate him as an association.
“It is rare to see people and a whole association to gather, without making any demand, just to celebrate someone and remembering what such a person have done in the past eight years. This gathering and idea is great and needed to be replicated.
“It is good to celebrate leaders who have added something positive and progressive to ones or an association life.
“Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been exceptional as a leader, a brother and a friend,” Sambo said.
The get together was attended by hundreds of MACBAN members in Enugu State including their wives.
