The leadership crisis rocking the Cattle Dealers Association in Oyo State took another dimension on Saturday as the erstwhile Chairman of the group, Alhaji Morufu Salau dismissed claim of aggrieved members that he was holding on to the group’s Chairmanship decade after his ascension of office.
Reacting to the media reports by some leaders of the Cattle Dealers Association on Saturday in Ibadan, Salau said those who alleged him of wrongdoing were the saboteurs who had failed in many ways to bring him down over the years.
According to Salau, these elements in the Cattle Dealers Association had embarked on the campaign of calumny, having heard that a new union; Cattle Breeders and Dealers was greatly progressing and would hold a laudable programme on January 8, tomorrow at the Lekan Salami stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan on Sunday.
He said that the allegations levelled against him were untrue, adding that Busari Mojeed and Alhaji Dauda Adewole are not members of the association.
“The Association of Cattle Breeders and Dealers is a national association. I was duly elected as the Chairman here in an election held at Iseyin.
“Wasiu Busari from Oyo and Mohammed Umar from Igbeti emerged as Secretary and Treasurer respectively at the election”.
He said that they formed the union and agreed to do all within their capabilities in building a formidable union.
Salau noted that his former union, Cattle Dealers Association was led by interim leaders for many years, adding that election of leaders was not that paramount to them.
“In 2010, some people came that they want to form Oke-Ogun group. I did not discourage them, but urged them to carry the state along on their activities.
“It was later I realized the mission of the group. In the union, we had 12 local governments with 10 to Oke-Ogun, one for Ibadan and the other one for Oyo.
“On seeing this, I decided not to summon any meeting to avoid crisis and they did not submit any report for five years,” he said.
He further explained that the group later registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and brought it to the commissioner for Agriculture who did not recognize them.
“We change the name of the association to Association of Cattle Breeders and Dealers, this is because Dealers fell under Commerce ministry, while Breeders fall under the Agriculture ministry.
“The change is to ensure the union benefit from both ministries. Later, we went to other states to ensure the association becomes a national body,” he added.
Salau said that the union had written the ministries, adding they would appoint patrons and other leaders on Sunday (today) Jan. 8.
Salau however, called on the warring group to sheathe their sword and join the association, saying they can only enjoy great benefits as a united front.
