How Lam prevented second civil war in Nigeria

Sunday, November 18, 2012

By KEHINDE OLAOSEBIKAN


Alhaji Lam Onaolapo Adesina, Oyo State Governor from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003, passed onto glory peacefully on Sunday, November 11,2012, after over 73 years of a very successful sojourn on earth. Alhaji Lam rose to the pinnacle of all his callings in life. He got to the zenith of his career as a teacher. As a social crusader, he got state recognition and was tagged 'prisoner of war'; and politically, he did not only realize his ambition of becoming the governor of his state, he achieved the extra-ordinary by installing a governor, not while in power but eight years after he had left office. Since Sunday, torrents of tributes have been pouring in from various quarters, all extolling the virtues of Alhaji Lam Adesina .


He has been described in many superlative words, establishing the fact that Alhaji Lam was a great man. But how great really was the husband of the benign Alhaja Sarat Adeola Adesina? As his Chief Press Secretary while he served as the Governor of Oyo State, I will transmit a story of how the former governor tamed a former Military Head of State and prevented what could have led to the Nigerian second civil war. It was on October 13, 2000, when words went round that General Muhammadu Buhari was leading the Arewa team to the governor's office to confront the state over alleged killing of Fulani herdsmen in Saki, Oke Ogun area of the state. General Buhari did actually telephone the governor that he was leading a team to his office. In less than 30 minutes after the General informed the governor of his visit, we noticed that the entire secretariat was already filled with lorry loads of our brothers from the North.


This created some tension but we kept our calm. At about 2pm, General Buhari arrived in a long convoy at the Governor's office in company with the former Governor of Lagos State, General Buba Marwa, Alhaji Aliko Muhammed, Alhaji Abdulrazak , Alhaji Hassan and some others. They all wore long faces. In fact, the anger and venom in them was very palpable as all pleasantries extended to them were largely shunned. "This is trouble", was the expression on the faces of all of us in the Governor's office. Shortly afterwards, the Director of State Security Service (SSS) and Commissioner of Police arrived. But their presence did not change anything particular on the fears that had gripped majority of us.


The two security chiefs did not come with troops; they came almost alone. The meeting was called to order after Alhaji Lam serenely walked into the Executive Chambers in his well-embroidered multi-colour lace. Introductions over, General Buhari spoke of his mission to the governor's office. Emitting fire, the General accused the governor and the government of Oyo State of complicity in the killings of over 68 Fulani people in Oke Ogun area and perversion of justice. His words: "Your Excellency, our arrival here is to discuss with you and your government our displeasure about the incident of clashes between two peoples... the Fulani herdsmen and merchants are today being harassed, attacked and killed like in any war in Saki.


In May, 2000, 68 bodies of Fulani herdsmen were recovered and buried under the supervision and protection from a team of Mobile Police from Oyo State Command. " That some arrests were made by the State Police Command in the massacre with their immediate release without court trial was said to be ordered by Oyo State authorities and they were so released to their amazements. Then, consequently, the mass release of the arrested suspects gave the clear impression that the authority was backing and protecting them to continue the unjust and illegal killings of Fulani herdsmen..." According to the General, they wanted immediate stoppage of the killings, justice and compensation for the mass killing of the Fulani.


As weighty and indicting the General's allegations were against the governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina remained unperturbed as he only fired back with his own well- coordinated arsenal in form of robust explanations and engagements. Alahji Adesina identified all the points raised by the General and simply asked the heads of the organizations directly involved to respond to the allegations. First to speak was the Commissioner of Police who debunked all the claims made by the General. Instead of the allegation by the General that the natives killed the Fulani, the Police commissioner said pointedly that the opposite was the case. " The killings of the natives by the Fulani were duly reported to the police and of course, we could not make arrests because as soon as they kill, they migrate to other areas.


Who are you going to arrest? So that is the problem". On the contrary, on the killings of the Fulani which he said, was as result of "piled up anger", the commissioner disclosed that arrests had been made and the suspects still in police custody. Next was the Director of Security Service who equally tore all of General Buhari's claims to shreds. "The natives don't have problem with the Fulani who are residents but those who come in. They don't care for anybody. They just go ahead and when they graze farms, whoever cares to challenge them runs into trouble. You said 68 people were killed, and people driven away. I am not saying there were no killings but it cannot be more than five.


The petition was on the harsh side; there was nothing like that." Not done yet, Governor Adesina called in his Deputy, Barrister Iyiola Oladokun; and his SSG, Chief Michael Koleoso, both from Oke Ogun and the Chairman of the local government of one of the affected areas, Mr Ademola Alalade. They stated the true position of things in the area, corroborating the submissions of the security chiefs. At this point, all the tension and apprehensions evaporated. Trust Lam any day! He must rub it in. He spoke for about 20 minutes and the Generals were at the edges of their seats for the entire period.


They were like chickens that have just been thoroughly beaten by the rain. Lam Adesina said: " Before I thank you for this visit, you have come to tell me something, I also want to tell you something and that is to make an appeal. General Buhari is a former Head of State, Brigadier Marwa governed Lagos for some time and with credibility.... So, you are national leaders of this country. Even though by accident of birth, you are from the North, so you can be born anywhere, may be next time when I am coming to the world I will be born in the North or the South South. My appeal will be that effort must be made to unite this country and that will be to the best interest of all Nigerians.


I am appealing to the Arewa Consultative Forum under which auspices our distinguished Nigerians are here. In recent times, they have been sending wrong signals to a number of us who believe in the unity and peace of Nigeria. You have been too critical of the efforts of the federal government. I am saying this because Nigeria at this point cannot afford to break and the words you northern leaders utter are very weighty. In the South here, we normally analyze them critically." On all the allegations, Alhaji Lam Adesina said: "From what they have written in the petition, this government is completely blameless because we don't interfere either with the judiciary or with the police functions.


I always converse peaceful co-existence, living in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole. We are all Nigerians and that is what we have been preaching all along and we shall continue to be Nigerians , no matter the present or immediate problems which will be solved by the grace of Allah. I want to say also that we really have to appeal to our people, the itinerant Bororo people that they should be less aggressive. It is not good, it is not right; coming from somewhere, then, you just pass through farm lands cultivated may be with the person's life savings and then overnight, everything is gone. That is not right, even Allah does not approve of that. We even wonder when they talk about this people carrying dangerous weapons


. I ask, do they really believe in Allah? When you just take life like that and go away! Are we not forbidden not to take human life? So, I think General Buhari, General Marwa, you have to educate them.... "It is my pleasure to inform you that at the Presidential Lodge, we have made some arrangements for refreshments so that before you go, we can refresh together." General Buhari and his team did not wait for any refreshments. ADIEU! GREAT LAM! *Agba Akin Kehinde Olaosebikan was Chief Press Secretary to Alhaji Lam Adesina (1999 - 2003).

GARRI (x7):
OP: What's the point of this unnecessarily long ‎​Άnd incoherent write-up??.....

GARRI (x7):
OP: What's the point of this unnecessarily long ‎​Άnd incoherent write-up??.....

mosun_ade:

Did you read it. Asking your question simply means you were too lazy to read it.

His words: "Your Excellency, our arrival here is to discuss with you and your government our displeasure about the incident of clashes between two peoples... the Fulani herdsmen and merchants are today being harassed, attacked and killed like in any war in Saki.

maclatunji: Rather dramatic headline and the story does not prove anything beyond the fact that Buhari and Marwa led a group of people to file a complaint to the Governor. Knowing how Nigerian minions are, I am certain that the writer has polished his side of the story to achieve his objectives.

If Buhari was "hell-bent" on causing trouble as the writer is suggesting, the Late Lam Adesina's comments would not have stopped anything. Buhari would just have gotten into the car park and asked his "followers" to unleash mayhem. After all, the writer said there was little security presence on ground and they the government officials were "afraid".

Since the year 2000, we haven't heard of an escalation of the said conflict and people are here talking nonsense. Perhaps if Buhari hadn't made that trip, Oyo state would have been the first state to enter into protracted Fulani/Indigene dispute after the return to democracy in 1999. We don't have that- so what are you yapping about?

#Makewehearword

DaLover: Jesus, so people are still defending him!! unbelievable...

This guy matched into the Government house with his tribes men and started accusing the governor without any hard evidence

what he did is not really bad for the average person, but for a national leader who hope to be accepted by all, I think its shamefull...

Imagin someone of Obamas status storming into the floridas governors office to directly accuse the governor of hating blacks...because of the newly introduced election policies, wouldn't that diminish his status in your eyes?

There is a reason why Boko-Haram choose him as their spokes person, there is a reason why he has never been vocal against the boko boys, or used his popularity in the north to move sympathy against boko boys...

na wa ooo

Akanbi_edu:

It is true that the writer might have polished the story but it's equally important to wait for a response from Gen Buhari or Marwa. Except you were there when this event took place, please don't be too quick to defend.

GARRI (x7):

I will defend his action as described in the article. He did nothing wrong there....


Should he have dragged the corpses along to the meeting?? Did the administration deny the fact that people were killed.

He expressed his displeasure over the killing of Nigerian citizen (who are also his kinsmen), is that a good enough reason to hate the man?


How is it shameful


Nonsense


Repeating the same lies GEJ and Co want us to believe.
PDP=BH


Stop lying, ok??

DaLover:


I don't understand your ramblings...I have said that his behaviour is perfectly ok for an average Nigerian...not for one who expects the length and breath of the country to put their trust in him...

PointB: So General Buhari went for a 'discussion' on 68 murdered Fulani herdsmen. First an advance battalion of lorry loads of Brothers from the North occupied the (enemy's) secretariat (territory), creating palpable fear and panic. Later, another long convoy headed by the General made an entrance to the scene. Interesting how some folks didn't see anything sinister in this modus operandi. Let me ask, what if he wasn't satisfied with the outcome of the 'discussion'?

GARRI (x7):


I understand that you don't like Buhari.. I don't also, but that shouldn't be a reason for us to make unsubstantiated accusations.....

maclatunji: Rather dramatic headline and the story does not prove anything beyond the fact that Buhari and Marwa led a group of people to file a complaint to the Governor. Knowing how Nigerian minions are, I am certain that the writer has polished his side of the story to achieve his objectives.

If Buhari was "hell-bent" on causing trouble as the writer is suggesting, the Late Lam Adesina's comments would not have stopped anything. Buhari would just have gotten into the car park and asked his "followers" to unleash mayhem. After all, the writer said there was little security presence on ground and they the government officials were "afraid".

Since the year 2000, we haven't heard of an escalation of the said conflict and people are here talking nonsense. Perhaps if Buhari hadn't made that trip, Oyo state would have been the first state to enter into protracted Fulani/Indigene dispute after the return to democracy in 1999. We don't have that- so what are you yapping about?

#Makewehearword

maclatunji:

You would have preferred Buhari to leave them on the streets in different areas of Oyo to cause mayhem because they felt aggrieved? Remember, this "battalion" weren't with Lam Adesina, so they didn't know what transpired. It was up to Buhari to pacify the "rampaging battalion". Whatever Buhari said to them on that day in 2000 has pacified them till today, you should give him credit considering the fact that the writer sort to portary him as leading an army meant to destroy Oyo state on that day. Maybe, the Nigerian Military, Police, Nigerdelta militants and Boko Haram need to receive leadership from Buhari, perhaps they too will stop shooting and killing with reckless abandon when it suits them.

He did it with this "battalion", didn't he?

Some of you would prefer to hate a man and "colour him bad" than have peace.

#Shior

PointB:
$

So since when did herdsmen start arriving in lorries to occupy government secretariat, only for a 'statesman' to arrive minutes later to calm the situation. I don't know how you put your medular obloganta to use. But mine tells me Buhari is very much complicit in the occupations of the Oyo State Government Secretariat. And it is very obvious that the intention was to intimidate the Government and the good people of Oyo.

Buhari did not save the day contrary to your logic, Lam Adeshina did with his calm demeanor and control. Have you ever stopped to wonder what would have happened had the Governor decided to flex his muscle as the CSO of the state? Or if his explanation did not sway the blood thirsty Buhari and his battalion of 'aggrieved' herdsmen.

Point of the story is Buhari went for a fight, Lam Adeshina saved the day. And every unbiased observer will see it that way. Quit defending inanity!

maclatunji:

Obviously, "Buhari must be made to look bad at all cost" is the motto for some of you. What "strategic gain" was there for Buhari to get in 2000 by destabilising Oyo state at that point? You are worse than the writer, at least he has is own parochial objective, what is your own?

PointB:

Obviously you must support your mentor at all cost! What does a man who assembly lorry loads of trailer to intimidate a state governor care about 'strategic gain' in the deep sense of the phrase? His mission was simply, stampede Governor Lam into making careless statement and then capitalise on that. Have you bothered to ask yourself why Buhari was the one available for this kind of mission? Or why in another development his was invited by the dreaded sect Boko Haram as a mediator?

Keep defending this mindless and stu.pidily myopic stunt of your god Buhari, perhaps you would have done worst if you were to traded place!

mike404: I've said this before and I'm gonna say it again, GENRAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI aka BOKO BOY aka "SAI MAI SALLAH" is the founder and the commander in chief of dreaded Islamic sect called boko haram.... The earlier we accept this fact the better for we nigerians. GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!

DaLover: Jesus, so people are still defending him!! unbelievable...
This guy matched into the Government house with his tribes men and started accusing the governor without any hard evidence,

what he did is not really bad for the average person, but for a national leader who hope to be accepted by all, I think its shamefull...

Imagin someone of Obamas status storming into the floridas governors office to directly accuse the governor of hating blacks...because of the newly introduced election policies, wouldn't that diminish his status in your eyes?

There is a reason why Boko-Haram choose him as their spokes person, there is a reason why he has never been vocal against the boko boys, or used his popularity in the north to move sympathy against boko boys...

na wa ooo

DaLover: Jesus, so people are still defending him!! unbelievable...
This guy matched into the Government house with his tribes men and started accusing the governor without any hard evidence,

what he did is not really bad for the average person, but for a national leader who hope to be accepted by all, I think its shamefull...

Imagin someone of Obamas status storming into the floridas governors office to directly accuse the governor of hating blacks...because of the newly introduced election policies, wouldn't that diminish his status in your eyes?

There is a reason why Boko-Haram choose him as their spokes person, there is a reason why he has never been vocal against the boko boys, or used his popularity in the north to move sympathy against boko boys...

na wa ooo

DaLover:
So what is the unsubstantiated allegation?

1-That Buhari lead his kinsmen to the governors office and accused him of complicity?

or
That someone with more statesmanly character would have gone to see how peace can brought between two waring parties?

Deep down Buhari was probably thinking...we will deal with this people...thats what he refused to be even entertained by the governor...

GARRI (x7):

*Yawns*

kingoflag: Hey, beast, I'm not saying u shouldn't be a tribal bigot o, I'm just saying do not include the U.S in your jungle analogy. We don't like being compared with u animals that only think in tribalism and specialize in barbarism. Thanks in advance.