“Peace is the greatest weapon for development, any person cam have"

The incessant attacks on the local farmers by the Fulani herdsmen, has continued to enjoy Silence from the three arms of government and its components. If the fundamental right of a State connotes "Protection of lives, properties and sovereign integrity", what then should occupy the position or serve as Matter of National Urgency than a situation where a particular set of people (Ethnic) butchers their counterpart in broad daylight; all in the name of grazing their livestock.

It must be made known that this same politics/policy of silence and pampering was the same tactics, the Jonathan led administration used on the Boko haram sects while they were still at the “Mob” stage. Now they are beyond control, thus, has become a full scale monster bedevilling the nation. The Rwandan genocide of 1994, should serve as perfect precautionary example of what this continual silence by the arms/tiers of the government is breeding. Obviously, this is not the time to rap a particular arm or tier of government, but a time to question or demand explanation of what these governments have done to quash this herding problem that is slowly ripping the community, state, region and country apart.

It is pertinent to point out that Nigeria’s government is based on federal system, whereby the federating units, to an extent are independent and can make bye-laws to suit its government (e.g. Sharia law of the Northern States and the customary law of the Southern-Eastern States). Therefore, the local government, the state government and the federal cannot be ramified, if this Fulani-killings is to be rectified; as this problem has its threshold on communities these herdsmen perceives as fertile grounds to browse their herd. These communities are part of a local government (the government closest to the people), and each local government in Nigeria has its Chairman and Councillors, but the silence of these officials in the affected LGA is worrisome, it’s like a conspiracy leaving only the locals to do all the crying, demonstration and sensitization. The State is also there, having all the security votes of the communities that made up the Local Governments, which in turn summed up the State, yet these resources cannot be used or directed to curb the security menace destroying lives and properties within the state. The needful must be done, before going to the apex government that houses more regions, with different problems. In as much as the federal controls the military and paramilitary, the State has to an extent the power to take security measures that the State deems fit of securing her inhabitants. For instance; during the cause of MASSOB action that crippled Anambra state in the early 2000’s, the State government declared curfew and outright execution of any MASSOB member causing havoc within the State, hence, the nefarious activities of the MASSOB where limited. Again, similar major was taken when kidnapping posed a serious threat to the lives of Anambrialian, the State government once again intervened. If these examples where to go by, why then the menace of silence among the tiers and arms of the government?


Fulani Killings should occupy the slot of "Matter of National Urgency"

Motor cycles popularly known as “Okada” were virtually banned in all the States capital and highways in Nigeria, including the FCT to curb road accidents. Why then has no government introduced similar measures to limit or curb the encroachment of these herdsmen into the farmlands of other ethnics that does not fancy nomadic life style? Nelson Mandela once said: “I dream of Africa which is in peace with itself”. Hence, the culture of silence trailing these nefarious killings and counter attacks by indigenous farmers, juggernaut to catastrophic end, if the elected government officials across tiers and arms of the government do not stop acting spineless and sit up to their responsibilities; which is to diplomatically tackle matters of national urgency. To be forewarn is to be fore armed, Adolf Hitler once said; “When diplomacy ends, war begins”. Hence, veteran modern day realism philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli posited: “Before all else, be armed”.

In the interest of peace, let the government closer to the people speak up, the menace of their silence is causing more harm than good. The federal must not do everything, hence, the need for State and Local government. South-East, South-South and part of North Central (Middle belt) are the geo-political zones besieged by these Fulani herdsmen and if nothing meaningful is done by the government, the constituents of the affected zones might resort to take the protection of their lives and properties into their own hands.

Source: www.tonyagbatajnr.com

My brother, we don't even know what is happening anymore.

Welcome to Nigeria Where lawlessness and waywardness is the order of the day