Days, after it embarked on strike imposed on the south over alleged attacks on their member the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, has called off the industrial action following Wednesday’s intervention by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello and former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
From left: National Secretary, Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Breeders of Nigeria, Mohammed Alarama; National Secretary, Northern Consensus Movement, Awal Aliyu; Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi briefing State House Correspondents after their meeting the Chief of Staff to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari on the suspension of strike by the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Breeders of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday
The union and the Northern Consensus Movement had met at the instance of the governor at the Kogi state Governor’s Lodge in Abuja where the governor impressed it on them to call off the strike.
After extensive dialogue with the governor, the union immediately called off the strike embarked upon by her members.
The Union led by its president, Dr Mohammed Tahir as well as Chairmen of the Union across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT and critical stakeholders earlier met with the Governor behind closed doors.
Addressing journalists at the end of the interface, Dr Tahir commended Governor Bello for wading into the crisis and ensuring that it was resolved noting that the Governor has demonstrated leadership which both parties greatly appreciated.
“With this development, the Union members will commence the movement of their products especially cattle, vegetables and other foodstuffs to the Southern part of Nigeria and vice versa”, he stated.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Governor Bello disclosed that Union had tabled a list of demands, which must be met to avert a reoccurrence.
Bello said working with Fani-Kayode, he has been able to reach out to the major stakeholders on both sides insisting on the need for peace to reign.
He said the union has agreed to end the food blockage but insisted that their members must be protected anywhere they are in the country.
Bello affirmed that he had gotten the commitment from parties to sheath their swords in order to end the hardship that has accompanied the food embargo.
The governor said: “I’ve gotten the commitment of the Union. In order for us not to continue to have this hardship across the country to lift the ban on food and livestock transportation to the south.
“I’ve also gotten a major commitment from people from the south not to attack people of Hausa/Fulani and the traders in the south and that the criminals among them irrespective of tribe and religion should be handed over to law enforcement agents.
“I’ve also gotten the commitment that their lives and properties will be protected also.
“So, these are the messages we brought to the chief of staff to convey to the president.”
Bello also spoke on the demands which the traders want the president to meet saying: “Number one demand is to ensure that their goods and the lives of their members anywhere in the country are safe.”
He added: “On this note, we have brought the demands to Mr President, through the Chief of Staff and how we’ve been able to resolve the matter. The Chief of Staff is going to convey the message to Mr President.
“The association demanded that it’s members that are killed, they are requiring that compensation be paid for the lives and livelihood that were destroyed in the South.
“All those who committed those crimes should be brought to justice, the harassment by law enforcement agencies on our federal highways be stopped, the extortion by all touts along federal highways, especially from the northeast or from the north to south-south and southeast, particularly, be stopped.
“We’ve presented those demands to the government because before now, they have reached out to every authority in the land and there seemed to be no positive response to the demand.”
He further said: “I have the mandate to resolve the issue. We’ve been able to reach out to major actors in the southwest to desist allow peace to reign. We’ve gotten commitment on both sides to sheath their swords.”
Also speaking, Fani-Kayode said but for the timely intervention, the crisis which he described as a very complicated issue, would definitely have snowballed into a major crisis in the country.
He described the intervention led by Bello and his team as “more or less like a miracle” as they acted within 72 hours which led to a positive resolution.
“And that is extremely impressive. And I believe that by this intervention in national issue if we have this sort of strong leadership across party lines, our country would be a much better place in the future.”
