₦airaland Forum

I am quite pleasantly shocked by Victor Umeh's straight talk here.
Some idiotic Nigerians on nairaland would say he is "insensitive" in his approach.

Meanwhile millions of Nigerians are dying while the national opinion leaders make "guarded" (read self deceiving) statements.  

[size=16pt]We Can’t Run Away From Sovereign National Conference[/size]

My name is Onlytruth, and I approve this message!

Posted by: adejoro75

Part of the reason why you do not hear so many cattle rearer-farmer conflicts in the far North is because many of the farms are mechanized. Mechanization implies that the farms are fenced and secured against not just cattle encroachment, but also farm thieves. Down south, at least in the East and South South, farm holdings are fragmented and so mechanization and attendant security measures are less of an option. [/b]Thus, the Fulani cattle rearers and their animals have no physical barriers preventing them from grazing on crops. Keep in mind that the few mechanized farms in the East are excluded from grazing because they are secured.



[b]The fulani should modernize their activities. They must not sacrifice people's farming activity for their own grazing needs. No livelihood is superior to the other. The desert in the North can be turned into green grazing ground. What are all the dams been built in the North used for?

Thank you for a very intelligent and honest post.

Posted by: ndu_chucks

Onlytruth, You do not have sprawling in those areas at levels that could invite conflicts. Additionally, many of the inhabited areas in those states do not fall on the routes taken to the East and other Southern states. I don't think you'll be satisfied with any explanation I give. [b]You are not a serious person to be on any negotiating table. We normally just beat people like you up and throw you in jail. [/b]Dan tselewa

You may not know it, but my type is really your best friends in Nigeria, because at least I am talking and saying what I want to happen; what I think should bring peace and harmony; basically putting forward solutions that no one dared talk about in Nigeria, yet those are the ONLY solutions. A lot of folks are not talking, but they are wanting to "speak" in ways that your type respect.

Ever wonder why nothing is working in Nigeria, and everyone is calling for division?
It is because never-do-wells like yourself refuse all rational solutions and still insist in ruling others who are far more intelligent than you.

One thing I would tell you is this; Nigeria is a nation of contradictions, and the person feeling powerful may actually be the victim, taken down from behind by converts to the cause of truth.  
I will tell you this again: REPENT.

Mutun banza!

^^

So there are NO FARMS in KANO, KADUNA, and other FAR North states?
So where are all the millet and corn farms?

Your problem is that you are interested in winning arguments.

I'm only interested in saving my people from your thieving and marauding herders.

^^ And the answer to the question about why there are NO herder vs farmer conflicts in FAR NORTH, and in farms owned by the rich and powerful individuals and towns in Nigeria is . . . .? 

Let me help you figure it out.

As long as there would be NEGATIVE consequences to the mallam and his herd, it won't happen. PERIOD.

Now, back to your "popularity contest".

I'm only interested in saving lives and protecting people, especially my people.

The mallam can take over Yorubaland for all I care.

Igboland is "no go area" to marauders, rapists and murderers. 

@topic,

If some state governments banned Okada riding thereby throwing thousands of people out of their jobs drying up incomes for families, all in name of public good and safety, banning nomadic cattle rearing should be a cinch!

It brings more pain than gain. Above all, I foresee a serious trouble ahead if not banned.

^^

As always, you sidestep the facts as presented just to allow yourself room for lie and deceit.

Here is my post again.

So, even if we have these no go areas -farms and towns- along the so called grazing routes, the mallam would have to change route.  The same reason why you have the largest farms in [size=16pt]far north[/size], yet we NEVER hear of herdsmen vs farmer conflicts.

Now, show me that case. I'm waiting. 

Posted by: Negro_Ntns

Cowboys are ranchers. In US, there are designated pastures for grazing and are operated coMmercially.

You can't compare US to Nigeria on this issue.

If you modernize herdsmen by US standard, then modernize farmers on that scale as well.

Thank you for this bolded point. I wonder why some things are modernizing in Nigeria while others are chiseled in the stones of backwardness.

Farms are modernizing in Nigeria but we still see fulani herding as "culture" or "way of life".
If anyone's culture and way of life brings pain and death to others, then any lawful government must force a change of that culture, else worse things would happen.

Since we are modernizing farms in Nigeria, cattle breeding and rearing should be modernized as well.
But that is a long term solution.
Immediate solution would be to zone areas and clearly delineate grazing route (mainly along no man's lands) for these herders until the state governments completes designing of total ban policies. 

Posted by: ndu_chucks

Your insensitivity and burying your head in the sand will not resolve any conflict. The answer to your silly question as to why the herdsmen don't go near Obasanjo's farm is that, the farm is not along the routes of the herdsmen - this is the same reason why they don't bring their cattle into the farms in your very own village. olodo, rakumin dajij.

hahaha! You gave your usual false answer.

Every Nigerian on this forum knows that there are no go areas in Nigeria. Obasanjo farms and many many others are among them. I can assure you that we have many Hausa/northerners in Nnewi but they are NOT herdsmen. We won't let them try that nonsense. Land matters is a very serious issue in Nnewi. Go and ask anyone.

So, even if we have these no go areas -farms and towns- along the so called grazing routes, the mallam would have to change route. The same reason why you have the largest farms in far north, yet we NEVER hear of herdsmen vs farmer conflicts.

I mean just imagine this line of thinking.
Urban sprawl is taking up more land (former grazing lands), therefore Fulani herdsmen have no choice than to herd their cattle into farms, effectively turning farms of corn, yams and cassava into "green pastures".
Whatever happened to land ownership!
I admit that a lot of things are upside down in Nigeria, but land ownership and trespassing laws are simple and clear enough.
Let me ask ndu-chucks a question:
Why don't these fulani herdsmen go near Obasanjo farms?
I'm sure it is very green. 

Posted by: udezue

EzeUche You have been talking about Igbo land reviving its Palm-tree industry yet u believe we can't raise our cattle, goats, etc? The best thing the governors can do is buy the poor wretched herdsmen out of their business, establish designated areas of the states that can be turned into ranches and have people / business buy them out and establish it as business. If they like they can employ very few Fulani to work in the fields / ranches. Tax the business and BAN NORMADIC HERDING. [/b]Please quit lying about Abians having such a rosy relationship with Fulani cattle herders. The last I checked Fulani and Hausa ppl have always gotten roasted anytime they mess with our people.

The bolded is the gist of the whole thing, and is well within the powers of state governors.
Their first duty and obligation is to their state citizens: protection of life and properties.

[b]ndu_chucks solutions are "dan kwaya" solutions.

@EzeUche

They haven't tried anything in Anambra state because the people there won't take it either.
We can still have meat without these mindless criminal acts by these herdsmen.

And I still insist that we have "efi Igbo". 

If all these fail, then jungle justice would be the next option, though not mine.

In fact if I were in Nigeria and in Imo state now, I would sue the state government and apply for a "writ of mandamus" from a high court compelling the state government to implement the law.

Posted by: Negro_Ntns

Onlytruth,

Suggest some framework aroiund which you will like to see government ask.

U r expecting too much from dummies in state house to come up with anything good.

So beside total ban, come up with three top suggestions.

Please, bakassi is not a plan, neither is masoob.

Now that your senses have returned, I would share some ideas which motivated the post in the first place.

As at today, state governors are the most powerful authorities in terms of land matters.
The Land Use Act of 1978 confers trusteeship (or custodianship) of land on the state governors. That is why all Statutory Rights of Occupancy are issued by the governors, and they can withdraw it for "public good".

Since these herdsmen don't even hold C of Os, their movements should be easily regulated by the governors through state edicts.
The Nigerian constitution still sees the governors as the "chief security officer" of each state. Therefore the governors should act using existing laws.

Northern governors routinely deny or withdraw C of Os from christian churches (though they always cite public good, we know better )

Don't quickly rule out the Bakassi boys because they are the Anambra State Vigilante Services (in Anambra state) which was established by state law and are the de facto enforcers of certain state law (at least until we have state police). I hope they don't become involved. The Nigerian police should be used here, at least until they fail.

Posted by: EzeUche

My question is, who will provide us beef? 

If not aboki, then who? I know Igbos will not get into the cattle rearing business.

And who says we cannot provide our own beef?
But this is not even what this thread is about. It is about controlling a potentially dangerous situation.

In any case if this means no more beef, then so be it.
We have "efi Igbo".

Posted by: mikeansy

Appologies for use of the phrase jungle justice, but no Governor or group of Governors will legitimately have the power to declare their region non-grata to certain people based on tribe. That will run contrary to the constitution of the Fedral Republic of Nigeria and will simply be a recipe for Anarchy.

This was the mistake made in Jos, the failure to tackle this issue legally simply gave legitimacy to Fulani cattle rearers and this simply became a battle between one community against the other.

All the Governors need to do is to send out a warning message to all cattle rearers no matter where they come from reminding them that they can only legitimately take their cattles for grazing in lands that belong to them and anybody caught breaking this law will be arrested simple. A task force can be set up to enforce this law. Offenders can be arrested, their cattles confiscated and auctioned to pay up any damages caused.

Then if the Catle rearers choose to engage in an open war with the Government itself then they will be dealt with accordingly.

Apologies accepted!

The second bolded is exactly what I was alluding to before folks started going haywire.
It ain't "an aberration" by any measure.

The governors should act. NOW!

If there are state policies in place, this will become a piece of cake. But without any law or policy in place, we better get ready for major confrontations.
I say major because our people also live in the north.

Igbo anaghi agba oso mmiri karia mgbe mmiri mazuru ha aru!

I'm out for now, headed to Anambra forum!

So my message continues to go out to other Igbo to task their governors on producing a "Fulani control masterplan" for their states.
If they don't, it can be concluded that there will be confrontations between these herdsmen and our local farmers.
It will happen because the desert is encroaching more and they are moving south more these days.

Ka anyi jiri ututu choba ewu ojii o!

Agwo no kwa n'akirika o!

@mikeansy

You also pretended that I was calling for a "jungle justice" approach from the governors.
Pray, which Nigerian law gives governors "jungle justice" powers?

Some Nigerians can't even read or think!

If I'm calling on governors to do something, why didn't I call on Bakassi to move in and act?

Posted by: mikeansy

The aberation here is that you are asking a state government with all the powers to activate and implement the laws to not even try but resort to jungle justice. [/b]They have to first implement the laws, when that fails then we can begin to find other means. But they have not tried yet.

I know that there is a lot of provocation coming from the other end of the border but we must continue to hold ourselves to higher standards otherwise there will not a lot to differentiate us.

Dude, did you even read the Original Post?

If you didn't, here it is again:

Posted by: Onlytruth

[b]The governors of SE states need to convey an urgent meeting to adopt a "no-go area policy" for Fulani herdsmen for Igboland.
This call is urgent because I know my people very well. It seems that this fulani herdsmen vs local farmer "fight" has been going on unreported. It if attracts the attention of Bakassi boys or the youths of SE, we can easily have a genocide of Fulanis in Igboland. I don't want that to happen.
Our people are all over Nigeria doing their business quietly. They don't r.ape women and kill their hosts.

So, is it unreasonable to you to map out "no go areas" for Fulani herdsmen?
So, you want the status quo to continue?

So, as I was saying, Imo state sons and daughters should take up this issue with their governor because it seems as if the crisis had been going on for sometime.
We can pretend it didn't happen until folks take disproportionate measures.
Nigeria is already boiling.

Let me rehash the issue because it seems folks are struggling with understanding it.
We have all the laws that protect life and property in all parts of Nigeria.
Why are Fulani herdsmen ra.ping and killing in Benue, Plateau, Western Nigeria and now Imo state?
Since we have these laws; what happened

The problem is that Nigerians like to give all kinds of excuses for not acting until it is too late.

I'm sure that when the crisis of 1966 was brewing, folks were also busy saying "we have laws that can easily take care of this".
That led to a civil war.

Like I said before, Fulani herdsmen are not the only Nigerians living in other people's lands.
They only happen to be the only ones invading farms, ra.ping locals and killing farmers that dared confront them.

It won't be long before we get another explosion.

For now, since this incident happened (or is happening ) in Imo state, I hereby call on my Imo state brothers and sisters to take up this issue directly with Gov Rochas Okorocha. Ebonyi and Enugu states should do the same. I have not heard whether there are Fulani in Abia state. If yes, they should do the same to Gov Orji.

I will send my own alarm to Gov Peter Obi of Anambra state just in case.

A stitch in time saves nine.

Posted by: Ileke-IdI

That would be practicing segregation, sectionalism, racism, tribalism etc.

Nigeria belongs to everyone. Tribalism should not be encouraged.

Girl I quite overestimated your IQ. Frankly.
I don't know how many people using this your "Ileke-Idi" ID. This one is really dumb.

Nigerians live in all parts of Nigeria peacefully. They don't invade farms, r.ape women and attack their hosts. This can lead to a very deadly reprisal, and other things if unaddressed. I can smell trouble from miles away.

Maybe you belong permanently in the "segregation, sectionalism, racism, tribalism etc" section of this site.

This issue is a gun-powder that needs urgent government attention. 

How can you regulate a group which thinks that any fresh vegetation is "pasture"?
Isn't that impossible?

Why do you think farmers in developed countries have huge arms cache and armories?

Unless the Nigerian government want our farmers to stack up arms.

I believe I have a very good foresight, and I'm foreseeing a silent genocide of Fulanis in Igboland if the governors don't do anything urgent. We can't allow that nonsense.
Fulani should go back north with their cattle since they apparently don't value the privilege extended to them by other Nigerians.

I'm also beginning to think that this "fulani herdsmen" may be a carefully orchestrated provocation by some northern elements to achieve whatever devious end they are scheming towards because of a minority president.

This is why the governors should act now, else we would have a "boys oye" situation in SE that will wipe out the fulani.

The governors of SE states need to convey an urgent meeting to adopt a "no-go area policy" for Fulani herdsmen for Igboland.
This call is urgent because I know my people very well. It seems that this fulani herdsmen vs local farmer "fight" has been going on unreported. It if attracts the attention of Bakassi boys or the youths of SE, we can easily have a genocide of Fulanis in Igboland. I don't want that to happen.
Our people are all over Nigeria doing their business quietly. They don't r.ape women and kill their hosts.

The governors of SE states need to convey an urgent meeting to adopt a "no-go area policy" for Fulani herdsmen for Igboland.