By Femi Ipaye/Abuja

A Big Ram waits for a buyer. Photo: Femi Ipaye

Sellers of  rams and goats usually killed for the Muslim festival of Eid-el -Kabir within and around the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are complaining of low sales, barely six days to the festival.

Strangely, some of them who spoke to TheNEWS are blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for their plight.

Mallam Shehu Garba  from Sokoto State, one of the traders at the Apo Roundabout ram  market in the Garki area of Abuja  said in pidgin english: “No market because people don’t buy, no Ministers. Perm Secs, Directors and other big men in country don’t buy because of Buhari. People dey fear”, said Garba.

Last year, rams were selling for between N150k and N200k. The prices have fallen 50 per cent. Photo Femi Ipaye

According to Mallam Garba, patronage  has been slow because the major buyers who are usually top staff of federal ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs as well as directors  of private companies who buy and give to families and friends have not been buying.

He attributed reluctance of people to buy the rams in large quantity for subsequent distribution as sallah gifts to the change in the government, especially the election of Buhari as President and his anti-corruption stand.

“So many people are scared to give out ram as Sallah gifts”, said Mallam Garba.