U.S:Killings must stop in Nigeria

Mercy Lank

United States Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr W. Stuart Symington has enjoined both the Nigerian leaders and citizens to make concerted efforts to stop the killings currently ravaging the country. The ambassador was speaking at ceremonies marking the 242 years of Independence for the United States of America.

Symington speaking on the situation in Nigeria said every day, people’s hopes are stopped by unnecessary deaths and by those whose acts reflect no good and served no cause. He added that it was in the power of both leaders and citizens to stop the killings. He eulogised Nigeria as a country of ‘world cup importance’ and that there is no country where more is at stake for the future of the world than Nigeria, noting that every day, “we work with good people to save lives and bend upwards the curve of economic growth, so that real opportunity and hope will outpace need. “ “But, far too often, we see the deaths of innocents whose hopes are stopped forever, by those whose awful acts reflect no good and serve no cause. These innocents must not be forgotten, Symington said, adding: “Nigeria’s leaders and citizens have it in their power to make this killing stop now, if you are united across all regions, all occupations, and all faiths. When you act together with sincerity and high purpose and sustained effort, you will end this violence. This is not a goal, this is the Cup itself. And it will mean the World for you to lift it high! ALSO READ: See the ‘Starboy’ garage The US ambassador emphasized that an enduring security “depends on strong citizens who support each other and their governments. It is as much a product of trust forged by opportunities shared and rules fairly enforced on level playing fields as it is the product of force wisely applied to answer threats.” He also called for efforts to encourage mentors who can help Nigeria’s youths reach their goals, explaining that.”If ten million Nigerians mentor just a few people each, that will change the course of all those lives, this Nation, and our world.” He added that the effort would start with calling on diplomatic colleagues to join in reaching out to ten people each. “We will also reach out to those in our 170,000 person YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) network, on our on-line mentoring site. I ask… that every one of those in the YALI network of Nigeria become a mentor themselves; that you reach out to “pay it forward” and mentor other Nigerians as you have been mentored…that would spur an extraordinary burst of hope and opportunity,” he concluded.

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2019: Nigerian Youths plot to unseat Buhari

Mercy Lank

Despite the plea to them not to contest the presidential race against him in 2019, some youths have commenced move to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari.Nigerian youths, under the auspices of Intellectual Revolution Group (IRG) made this known at Arewa House, Kaduna, yesterday, while inaugurating its state executives and zonal leadership for the Northwest zone.

The youths said they were set to mobilise young Nigerians to actualise ‘young President’ in 2019 and make a national declaration in Abuja to unveil their Presidential candidate for 2019 and fresh people in all positions of power. Inaugurating the zonal executive, the National Coordinator of IRG, Salaudeen Lukman said 2019 must usher in a ‘Young President’ with proven record of purpose and determination, adding that, “old politicians, who have milked our dear nation dry must go to rest and assume advisory role. It’s a sin to rule their generation.’ He said: “Our resolve includes mobilising our teeming youth to form strong ideological political movement that will support ‘Young President’ come 2019.The zonal and state executives took oath office and were given mandate to go and mobilise youths from their respective states.

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Killings:Plateau massacre, retaliation for lost 300 cows — Miyetti Allah

Mercy Lank

Buhari regrets attacks, says politicians taking advantage of farmers, herders’ clashes •PDP bemoans killings, carpets Buhari, APC •Police Special Forces join other services on ground By Henry Umoru, Marie-Therese Nanlong, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Joseph Erunke & Dirisu Yakubu ABUJA—The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has described the attacks on some communities in Plateau State as an act of retaliation over the killing of 300 cows belonging to its members. President Buhari Suspected herdsmen had on Saturday night, through Sunday, attacked Riyom, Barakin Ladi and Jos South local government areas of the state, killing over 100 persons, though the Police confirmed 86. Miyetti Allah’s statement came yesterday, as fresh attacks on Kwi village in Riyom local government area claimed one more life in the early hours, despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew declared in the three local government areas. This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, advised citizens not to take laws into their hands in the recent upsurge of clashes between farmers and herdsmen, declaring that politicians were now taking advantage of the crisis between both groups to cause havoc, with a view to securing advantage in the 2019 general elections. Chairman of the North Central zone of MACBAN, Danladi Ciroma, who signed the statement, said herdsmen in the state had lost about 300 cows in the weeks leading to the attack. He accused the communities of hiding cattle rustlers among them as well as frustrating peace efforts of the state government. He said: “These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don’t support the killing of human beings, the truth must be told that those who carried out the attacks must be on revenge mission. “There have been recent reports of cow rustling and destruction of farms between Berom farmers and Fulani herdsmen. The people carrying out these criminal activities are well known to the communities but the communities are hiding them. “Fulani herdsmen have lost about 300 cows in the last few weeks – 94 cows were rustled by armed Berom youths in Fan village, another 36 cows were killed by Berom youths. In addition to that, 174 cattle were rustled and the criminals disappeared with them to Mangu. “Since these cows were not found, no one should expect peace in the areas. Even soldiers that went after the criminals to recover the rustled cows were shot by the armed rustlers and eventually escaped with all the cows. “The government of Governor Lalong has done a lot to restore peace, but the criminal elements hiding among their people are the ones frustrating these peace efforts.

” Ciroma added that security agencies should be fair to all parties, and not neglect any report presented by herdsmen, saying “because such report can lead to attacks and deaths if not properly handled.” He said: “Criminals thrive a lot in Berom communities, but when the herdsmen, who are always victims of their crime, react with attacks, they blame the government.” Hundreds have been killed this year alone in attacks by suspected herdsmen as well as in clashes between the herders and farmers, with President Muhammadu Buhari vowing to bring the killers to book. Killings on-going despite curfew However, despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew declared in the three local government areas on Sunday, there were reports of attack and killings in the early hours of yesterday at Kwi village in Riyom Local Government Area. No official of government or security confirmed the incident as the Police Public Relations Officer, Mathias Tyopev said he was not aware of the development. But a member of the State House of Assembly, representing Riyom, Mr. Daniel Dem, an indigene of the area claimed it happened. He said: “Yes, I was called and informed that Kwi was attacked this morning (yesterday), but I can’t say how many people were killed. But there are still people trapped at Palang village of Shonong, no security is there to rescue them and the boundary between Riyom and Kaduna State is tensed. “Since this ugly incident started, we have not rested, I just returned from Riyom to do a few things and go back there.” Another indigene of Kwi, Mr. Dauda Gyemang, also confirmed the attack, saying “yes, a sick woman was killed. She was mentally retarded and could not run when residents started hearing the sporadic gunshots until the attackers caught up with her and killed her.” The state government in its latest reactions to the incident yesterday, expressed displeasure at the manner gory pictures of the incident were being circulated on social media and called for caution. The government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said: “The state government observed with great concern the manner in which gory pictures of victims of the unfortunate attacks in parts of the state are being circulated on social media. “While sympathizing with affected families and communities, government is advising citizens to respect the sanctity of both the living and the dead, particularly at this time when the entire state is in mourning mood.” Jonah Jang Similarly, the senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Jonah Jang, a former governor of the state whose constituency is affected by the attacks, in a statement by his Media Consultant, Clinton Garuba, condemned the killings, saying it had fast become a co-ordinated attempt of genocide. The statement read: “With a deep sense of grief and genuine indignation, the senator representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone, Senator Jonah Jang, condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric killing of over 200 people in Gashish District, Razat, Ruku Nyarr, and Gana-Ropp in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State by herdsmen. “These continuous killings are fast becoming a co-ordinated attempt at genocide aimed at annihilating our people and stealing our God-given heritage. As one who is particular about the welfare and well-being of the people, the senator’s heart is with the families of all those who have been deliberately and mercilessly separated from their loved ones for eternity. “It is quite unfortunate that despite all the valuable lives we continue to lose, the government on the Plateau, led by Governor Simon Lalong, is still living in denial. “How many Plateau lives must be violently ended before the governor realises that the peace he claimed to have brought on the Plateau is imaginary?” Also reacting to the attacks, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun, who condoled with the people, maintained that the “killing is unacceptable” and urged residents to “eschew violence and allow peace to reign.” Jos NBA Reacting in a similar vein, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Jos branch, through its chairman, Bon Ngyou, condemned in strong terms “the senseless and mindless destruction of lives and property, since Saturday, June 23, 2018, in villages in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Mangu and Jos South local government areas.” He said: “The NBA is gravely saddened by this development and calls on the security agents to quickly bring this dastardly act to an immediate halt as it is unacceptable. We cannot continue to toe this path to perdition.” Meanwhile, authorities of the University of Jos has cautioned its staff and students to be mindful of their activities, in view of the recent events in the state. The university in a statement by its Principal Assistant Registrar, Information and Publications, Abdullahi Abdullahi, urged the students to be vigilant and avoid conflict-prone areas. “Following the civil disturbances recorded in some parts of Plateau State and attendant tension generated, Staff and Students of University of Jos are being strongly advised to be watchful and careful when coming to school. “They should avoid conflict-prone and lonely routes and be careful with kinds of vehicles/tricycles they board to ensure their safety.” Buhari regrets attacks In his reactions to the latest attacks yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed regrets that politicians were now taking undue advantage of farmers/herders’ clashes across the country. President Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, decried how increasingly cheap human life was becoming in Nigeria, as desperate people pursued their quest for instability and chaos which they hoped would give them an advantage in the coming elections. He said: “We know that a number of geographical and economic factors are contributing to the longstanding herdsmen/farmers clashes. But we also know that politicians are taking advantage of the situation. This is incredibly unfortunate. “Nigerians affected by the herdsmen/farmers clashes must always allow the due process of the law to take its course rather than taking matters into their own hands.” He said information available to the Presidency had it that about one hundred cattle had been rustled by a community in Plateau State, while some herdsmen were killed in the process. “The state governor, Simon Lalong, had invited the aggrieved groups and pleaded against further action while the law enforcement agents looked into the matter. Less than 24 hours later, violence broke out. “Some local thugs then took advantage of the situation, turning it into an opportunity to extort the public, and to attack people from rival political parties. “There were reports of vehicles being stopped along the roads in the state, with people being dragged out of their cars and attacked if they stated that they supported certain politicians or political party. “On his way back to Jos after attending the All Progressives Congress, APC, Convention in Abuja, the state governor had to dismantle a number of illegal road blocks set up by these thugs. There were also a number of dead bodies thugs had killed, lying along the road,’’ the President said. Also reacting yesterday, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, decried the gruesome killings, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to address and bring to book the perpetrators of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country in the past was largely responsible for the increasing spate of killings in the land. The party in a statement accused the ruling party of abandoning its primary responsibility of protecting lives because of its focus on the re-election bid of President Buhari in 2019. The statement read: “When the Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari cried out that he was overwhelmed by the spate of insecurity and killings, the Federal Government gave him an ineffectual response laced with their trite blame game. “We urge Nigerians to note that since the escalation of killings and blood-letting in various parts of the country, particularly in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna and other states, no concrete steps have been taken by the APC administration to strengthen and fortify the security architecture in the troubled areas. “Instead, what we are witnessing are inactions, impotent assurances and blame games that have continued to compromise security in the areas thereby creating opening for marauders to continue to ravage our people. “In fact, if the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its Federal Government had channeled the same energy and resources they have deployed to fighting perceived opponents towards fighting marauders and insurgents, the security challenge would not have been as devastating as we have in our nation today. “The PDP particularly agrees with Nigerians that if the over 7,000 security personnel, police surveillance helicopters and Armoured Personnel Carriers were not withdrawn from their primary security duties and drafted to be part of the APC national convention, the marauders would not have had a field day in this Plateau attack.” In his reaction, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, called on the President to direct his security chiefs to immediately produce quick response measures to tackle the spate of killings in the country. He said it was important for Nigerians to start having the assurances that the government was decisively responding to the current threat to lives and properties in parts of the country. In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President said: “I am very sad to hear the news of the incident in Plateau State. This is very depressing and gives the impression that the country is not safe. ‘’The problem of Boko Haram in the North East is well known to everybody but this killing by unknown band of assailants in Benue, Taraba, Plateau and Kaduna states is now giving another dimension to the crisis. Coming at the time we are getting ready for elections, we need to respond fast. “If the plan is to develop some long term measures, we also request that the President should mandate the security chiefs to put forward an immediate short term and quick response measure which will restore confidence in the system and demonstrate to the criminals behind this killings the capacity of government to tackle the issue. “We have to immediately device a plan through which the criminals behind the killings and their sponsors can be nabbed and made to face the wrath of the law. We have to also develop plans to mop up illegal fire arms in the hands of dangerous elements while also stopping the influx of these arms into the country.” Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed the Police Special Intervention Force to Plateau State in response to the latest killings. The IGP also deployed two Police Aerial surveillance Helicopters, five Armored Personnel Carriers, APCs, three Police Mobile Force Units, two Counter Terrorism Cells, CTU, and Police Intelligence Unit and conventional police personnel from other states to the affected areas in Plateau State. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Jimoh Moshood, yesterday, said the intervention force, headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, is mandated to immediately bring an end to the crisis. The statement read: “The Police aerial surveillance helicopters and other components of the intervention force are already in the state. ‘’Their arrival in the state has restored peace and prevent further attacks in the affected areas The Deputy Inspector General of Police; Department of Operations, is being relocated on the directive of the IGP to Jos, Plateau State, to coordinate and supervise the operations on the ground. ‘’The IGP’s directive was due to his concern for the recent killings of innocent people in Barkin-Ladi (Gashishi), Riyom, Jos South LGAs and other flash points in the state with the attendant disturbance of public peace, clashes and mayhem that engulfed the affected areas in Plateau State on June 23 and 24, 2018, which resulted in the loss of several innocent lives, burning of houses and vehicles, and destruction of properties. “The IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of IGP monitoring Unit to lead the Police Special investigation Team to the affected areas and other flash points in Plateau State. Related Ban Miyetti Allah association lawyers' platform urges FG June 27, 2018 Killings: FG should deploy soldiers to stop killing of cows, humans - Miyetti Allah February 3, 2018 Miyetti Allah plotting coup, says MAFO January 16, 2018 ADEKUNLE View all posts by adekunle → PREVIOUS POST Clamour for restructuring laced with parochial interest – Buhari NEXT POST Vestiges of military dictatorship noticeable in govt —Archbishop Obinna You might also like More thrills on episode 3 of Airtel’s The Voice Nigeria 2019: I am not sure there will be an election, even Nigeria may not live - Adeboye I wasn’t really nude as portrayed in picture – Moyo Lawal FG recommends compulsory tuberculosis test for public servants, students More children exposes mothers to higher heart attack risk Musa will show up strong against Argentina — Rohr How D’banj's little Daniel Oyebanjo III died Crocodile kills pastor conducting baptism Recommended by Disclaimer Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof. 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Yoruba elders fault Buhari over Plateau visit

Mercy Lank

Ibadan—Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE yesterday faulted the recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Plateau State where about 135 people were killed by Fulani herders, saying it was “full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” This came as the council asked governors in the South West parts of the country to assure people in the zone of their safety given the influx of Hausa/Fulani into all nooks and crannies of Yorubaland. The organization also flayed the deployment of police commissioners describing it as “very tokenistic” and merely scratching the problem on the surface. The elders’ council said this through its Secretary General, Dr Kunle Olajide after it rose from a meeting at the state headquarters, Ibadan. Citing previous spate of attacks across the country, they said, “Nigerians are not impressed with condolence visits by the President or Vice President which can be described as “full of sound and fury signifying nothing. “We have been perennially treated to these visits since January 2018 yet the killing continues unabated.” What could be the antidote to nip the persistent killings in the bud, according to the apex Yoruba organisation, “the President should reconfigure the nation’s security architecture to reflect the federal character provision in the constitution. Total overhaul is imperative. “YCE urges Mr President to demonstrate real concern for lives of Nigerians by arresting the perpetrators of this ignoble act and prosecuting them. The water of the relative peace in the South West has been seriously fouled by this militia invasion, something must be done urgently to stop the invasion”, the group said. While assuring President Buhari of the organisation’s co-operation, YCE vowed, “we will not sit idly by and watch the Yorubaland invaded by these rampaging militias. We urge all Yoruba to keep calm in the face of this provocation and wait patiently to use their PVCs to patiently express their wishes in 2019 election”. “More worrisome to the YCE is the nonchalant approach of the President to the very loud demands by patriotic Nigerians for restructuring of this dysfunctional and unproductive pseudo federal essentially unitary structure of government that is not working.” They reminded the president that the “unitary system of government is responsible for the collapse of security apparatus; the lethargic economy that is not growing as expected; the destruction of educational system; the near absence of health services for the Nigerian people and for the grinding poverty”. The organization called on President Buhari “to forward the bills for devolution of powers prepared by the APC’s El-Rufai committee to the National Assembly immediately. Mr President’s comments on restructuring is to say the least provocative. To wave off the demands of well meaning Nigerians nonchalantly is anti democratic”. President Buhari or herdsman Buhari? Having not suffered any traumatic dilemma over his overweening loyalty to herdsmen who are his fellow Fulani, President Muhammadu Buhari is oblivious of his rapid erasure as a statesman. Or if he is aware, he is not bothered about the grim verdict of history – here was a president of a great nation who ended as a leader of a segment of the country, Fulani herdsmen. Yes, we must discountenance Buhari’s sense of justice that seeks to exculpate him from the tragedies being unleashed by Fulani herdsmen. He vouchsafed this notion of justice during his visit to Plateau after the Fulani herdsmen’s attacks whose death toll has been officially put at 135 while witnesses claim it is over 200. He wondered why he should be accused of being silent over the now perennial massacres. The wonder is why Buhari should be surprised that he is being blamed for the Fulani herdsmen’s terrorism. His administration would not be identified with the legacy of solving the myriad of problems with which the nation is contending. Nor with directing the people’s energies towards a collective goal that would produce greater unity for the nation. Hobbled by its inability to respond to existential challenges that pose a mortal blow to our individual and collective existence, the Buhari government demurs at the prospect of conquering the moon. Thus, unlike other nations of the world whose stellar socio-economic, political and technological strides would etch them in the memories of other countries, Nigeria gains the attention of the world because it is trapped in the comparison of the death statistics of the Buhari administration and those of his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. While it is true that Boko Haram gloated about its suzerainty over swathes of the nation’s territory under Jonathan, the rash of deaths since Buhari emerged as president has shown that insecurity was only at its inchoate stage under the Ijaw poster boy of good luck. Jonathan was evicted from Aso Rock when he had only Boko Haram insurgents to contend with. But since the emergence of Buhari, insecurity has increased. In addition to Boko Haram, there is now the Fulani scourge. Buhari was voted into office because he claimed to possess the magic wand to end the insecurity. Nigerians believed because he is not only a retired general, he has been a head of state. It was assumed that he was very familiar not only with governance but strategies for countering insecurity. However, three years after, it has become clear that it was only an illusion. The people are now faced with the reality that Buhari has no magic wand. His failure to tame the Fulani herdsmen has only portrayed him as being in support of the plague of our common peace. Thus, on his watch, thousands have been killed by Fulani herdsmen. If Jonathan was considered to have lost the raison deter for his occupancy of Aso Rock to the abduction of 273 Chibok schoolgirls, can Buhari claim any legitimacy to his stay in Aso Rock after thousands have been killed by Fulani herdsmen on his watch? But what do the Fulani herdsmen really want? Why have they declared themselves implacable foes of our peace? Their implacability is seen in the fact that in less than a week after Buhari announced an iniquitous budget of N179 billion for them to have ranches, they savagely attacked residents of Plateau State. No matter how much Buhari whines that he is pained by his alleged complicity in the killings, the charge cannot easily be dismissed. For, Buhari has neglected the responsibility of curbing the lunacy of the herdsmen that inevitably results in destruction on an apocalyptic scale. While the citizens are still in confusion as regards who could have been responsible for the killings that have convulsed the nation, Fulani herdsmen often claim culpability. The Miyetti Allah is often ready with the claim that Fulani herdsmen are killing to avenge the rustling of their cattle or grazing laws that threaten their business. This has been the case in Benue and now Plateau State. In essence, the perpetrators of the killings are not hidden. So, if Buhari really wants to arrest and prosecute the killers, he could easily arrest the Miyetti Allah leaders since they can explain why the killings take place. Buhari deserves to be blamed for the Fulani herdsmen’s killings because he has refused to accept the need for him to review his security architecture. He has stuck to the nepotistic security architecture that is anchored on incompetence .If Buhari really wanted to check the killings why has he not appointed new service chiefs? Why has he not sacked the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali? Discerning Nigerian patriots think that the Fulani herdsmen’s crisis can be resolved through restructuring. It has been observed that restructuring would enable the states to work out their own security strategies to check a crisis like that of the Fulani herdsmen. The baleful consequence of the absence of a restructured polity is now seen in the predicament of Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara. He has no control over the security system in his state. The security chiefs in the state receive directives from Abuja. So no matter how much he is outraged at the carnage that is claiming his citizens, he cannot take a decisive measure to intervene. Yari has underscored his frustration with this incapacitating structure of the polity, when he declared that he was resigning from the office of the chief security officer of the state. While Buhari refuses to check the killings, we must be alert to the harm they are causing the nation. They have stoked ethnic hatred. The victims who survived their attacks only feel safe in their ethnic cocoons. The erosion of Nigerianess that the killings has provoked can be seen in the light of the prayer of some of the citizens during the Super Eagles’ match against Argentina in Russia. They were opposed to Nigeria winning because such victory would make Nigerians to forget the tragedies at home. They were afraid that banters would now centre on the Super Eagles’ victory and not on the killings and the overarching need to check their recurrence. It is obvious that the nation urgently needs clear-cut measures to check all these crises. But this sense of urgency is lost on Buhari. Such sense of urgency is blurred by Buhari’s quest for another four years. But it should be clear that Buhari needs another four years not to serve the nation but to demonstrate more loyalty to his fellow herdsmen. Blinded by this loyalty, Buhari cannot grasp his derailment encapsulated in the warning of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group that he has to choose between the presidency of Nigeria and that of Miyetti Allah. Perhaps, these killings are too far from the federal seat of power and this is why Buhari and his officials are not aware of the tragedies under which the nation is currently choking. In that case, we need to appropriate the admonition of the maverick Senator Shehu Sani that the victims of the Plateau killings should be buried close to Aso Rock. May be, when Buhari and his aides are confronted daily with these sad reminders of their tragic fecklessness, they would devise effective strategies to check the Fulani herdsmen plague. But it is not likely that this would even weaken Buhari’s ambition to snatch another four years from unwilling and bloodied citizens. But if those who want his return have their way, they should be ready for another four years of death and pain as he diminishes himself further and inflicts his Fulani herdsmen on them. President Buhari or herdsman Buhari? Having not suffered any traumatic dilemma over his overweening loyalty to herdsmen who are his fellow Fulani, President Muhammadu Buhari is oblivious of his rapid erasure as a statesman. Or if he is aware, he is not bothered about the grim verdict of history – here was a president of a great nation who ended as a leader of a segment of the country, Fulani herdsmen. Yes, we must discountenance Buhari’s sense of justice that seeks to exculpate him from the tragedies being unleashed by Fulani herdsmen. He vouchsafed this notion of justice during his visit to Plateau after the Fulani herdsmen’s attacks whose death toll has been officially put at 135 while witnesses claim it is over 200. He wondered why he should be accused of being silent over the now perennial massacres. The wonder is why Buhari should be surprised that he is being blamed for the Fulani herdsmen’s terrorism. His administration would not be identified with the legacy of solving the myriad of problems with which the nation is contending. Nor with directing the people’s energies towards a collective goal that would produce greater unity for the nation. Hobbled by its inability to respond to existential challenges that pose a mortal blow to our individual and collective existence, the Buhari government demurs at the prospect of conquering the moon. Thus, unlike other nations of the world whose stellar socio-economic, political and technological strides would etch them in the memories of other countries, Nigeria gains the attention of the world because it is trapped in the comparison of the death statistics of the Buhari administration and those of his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. While it is true that Boko Haram gloated about its suzerainty over swathes of the nation’s territory under Jonathan, the rash of deaths since Buhari emerged as president has shown that insecurity was only at its inchoate stage under the Ijaw poster boy of good luck. Jonathan was evicted from Aso Rock when he had only Boko Haram insurgents to contend with. But since the emergence of Buhari, insecurity has increased. In addition to Boko Haram, there is now the Fulani scourge. Buhari was voted into office because he claimed to possess the magic wand to end the insecurity. Nigerians believed because he is not only a retired general, he has been a head of state. It was assumed that he was very familiar not only with governance but strategies for countering insecurity. However, three years after, it has become clear that it was only an illusion. The people are now faced with the reality that Buhari has no magic wand. His failure to tame the Fulani herdsmen has only portrayed him as being in support of the plague of our common peace. Thus, on his watch, thousands have been killed by Fulani herdsmen. If Jonathan was considered to have lost the raison deter for his occupancy of Aso Rock to the abduction of 273 Chibok schoolgirls, can Buhari claim any legitimacy to his stay in Aso Rock after thousands have been killed by Fulani herdsmen on his watch? But what do the Fulani herdsmen really want? Why have they declared themselves implacable foes of our peace? Their implacability is seen in the fact that in less than a week after Buhari announced an iniquitous budget of N179 billion for them to have ranches, they savagely attacked residents of Plateau State. No matter how much Buhari whines that he is pained by his alleged complicity in the killings, the charge cannot easily be dismissed. For, Buhari has neglected the responsibility of curbing the lunacy of the herdsmen that inevitably results in destruction on an apocalyptic scale. While the citizens are still in confusion as regards who could have been responsible for the killings that have convulsed the nation, Fulani herdsmen often claim culpability. The Miyetti Allah is often ready with the claim that Fulani herdsmen are killing to avenge the rustling of their cattle or grazing laws that threaten their business. This has been the case in Benue and now Plateau State. In essence, the perpetrators of the killings are not hidden. So, if Buhari really wants to arrest and prosecute the killers, he could easily arrest the Miyetti Allah leaders since they can explain why the killings take place. Buhari deserves to be blamed for the Fulani herdsmen’s killings because he has refused to accept the need for him to review his security architecture. He has stuck to the nepotistic security architecture that is anchored on incompetence .If Buhari really wanted to check the killings why has he not appointed new service chiefs? Why has he not sacked the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali? Discerning Nigerian patriots think that the Fulani herdsmen’s crisis can be resolved through restructuring. It has been observed that restructuring would enable the states to work out their own security strategies to check a crisis like that of the Fulani herdsmen. The baleful consequence of the absence of a restructured polity is now seen in the predicament of Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara. He has no control over the security system in his state. The security chiefs in the state receive directives from Abuja. So no matter how much he is outraged at the carnage that is claiming his citizens, he cannot take a decisive measure to intervene. Yari has underscored his frustration with this incapacitating structure of the polity, when he declared that he was resigning from the office of the chief security officer of the state.

uHE4jJ01

While Buhari refuses to check the killings, we must be alert to the harm they are causing the nation. They have stoked ethnic hatred. The victims who survived their attacks only feel safe in their ethnic cocoons. The erosion of Nigerianess that the killings has provoked can be seen in the light of the prayer of some of the citizens during the Super Eagles’ match against Argentina in Russia. They were opposed to Nigeria winning because such victory would make Nigerians to forget the tragedies at home. They were afraid that banters would now centre on the Super Eagles’ victory and not on the killings and the overarching need to check their recurrence. It is obvious that the nation urgently needs clear-cut measures to check all these crises. But this sense of urgency is lost on Buhari. Such sense of urgency is blurred by Buhari’s quest for another four years. But it should be clear that Buhari needs another four years not to serve the nation but to demonstrate more loyalty to his fellow herdsmen. Blinded by this loyalty, Buhari cannot grasp his derailment encapsulated in the warning of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group that he has to choose between the presidency of Nigeria and that of Miyetti Allah. Perhaps, these killings are too far from the federal seat of power and this is why Buhari and his officials are not aware of the tragedies under which the nation is currently choking. In that case, we need to appropriate the admonition of the maverick Senator Shehu Sani that the victims of the Plateau killings should be buried close to Aso Rock. May be, when Buhari and his aides are confronted daily with these sad reminders of their tragic fecklessness, they would devise effective strategies to check the Fulani herdsmen plague. But it is not likely that this would even weaken Buhari’s ambition to snatch another four years from unwilling and bloodied citizens. But if those who want his return have their way, they should be ready for another four years of death and pain as he diminishes himself further and inflicts his Fulani herdsmen on them.

President Buhari or herdsman Buhari?

Mercy Lank

Having not suffered any traumatic dilemma over his overweening loyalty to herdsmen who are his fellow Fulani, President Muhammadu Buhari is oblivious of his rapid erasure as a statesman. Or if he is aware, he is not bothered about the grim verdict of history – here was a president of a great nation who ended as a leader of a segment of the country, Fulani herdsmen. Yes, we must discountenance Buhari’s sense of justice that seeks to exculpate him from the tragedies being unleashed by Fulani herdsmen. He vouchsafed this notion of justice during his visit to Plateau after the Fulani herdsmen’s attacks whose death toll has been officially put at 135 while witnesses claim it is over 200. He wondered why he should be accused of being silent over the now perennial massacres. The wonder is why Buhari should be surprised that he is being blamed for the Fulani herdsmen’s terrorism. His administration would not be identified with the legacy of solving the myriad of problems with which the nation is contending. Nor with directing the people’s energies towards a collective goal that would produce greater unity for the nation. Hobbled by its inability to respond to existential challenges that pose a mortal blow to our individual and collective existence, the Buhari government demurs at the prospect of conquering the moon. Thus, unlike other nations of the world whose stellar socio-economic, political and technological strides would etch them in the memories of other countries, Nigeria gains the attention of the world because it is trapped in the comparison of the death statistics of the Buhari administration and those of his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. While it is true that Boko Haram gloated about its suzerainty over swathes of the nation’s territory under Jonathan, the rash of deaths since Buhari emerged as president has shown that insecurity was only at its inchoate stage under the Ijaw poster boy of good luck. Jonathan was evicted from Aso Rock when he had only Boko Haram insurgents to contend with. But since the emergence of Buhari, insecurity has increased. In addition to Boko Haram, there is now the Fulani scourge. Buhari was voted into office because he claimed to possess the magic wand to end the insecurity. Nigerians believed because he is not only a retired general, he has been a head of state. It was assumed that he was very familiar not only with governance but strategies for countering insecurity. However, three years after, it has become clear that it was only an illusion. The people are now faced with the reality that Buhari has no magic wand. His failure to tame the Fulani herdsmen has only portrayed him as being in support of the plague of our common peace. Thus, on his watch, thousands have been killed by Fulani herdsmen. If Jonathan was considered to have lost the raison deter for his occupancy of Aso Rock to the abduction of 273 Chibok schoolgirls, can Buhari claim any legitimacy to his stay in Aso Rock after thousands have been killed by Fulani herdsmen on his watch? But what do the Fulani herdsmen really want? Why have they declared themselves implacable foes of our peace? Their implacability is seen in the fact that in less than a week after Buhari announced an iniquitous budget of N179 billion for them to have ranches, they savagely attacked residents of Plateau State. No matter how much Buhari whines that he is pained by his alleged complicity in the killings, the charge cannot easily be dismissed. For, Buhari has neglected the responsibility of curbing the lunacy of the herdsmen that inevitably results in destruction on an apocalyptic scale. While the citizens are still in confusion as regards who could have been responsible for the killings that have convulsed the nation, Fulani herdsmen often claim culpability. The Miyetti Allah is often ready with the claim that Fulani herdsmen are killing to avenge the rustling of their cattle or grazing laws that threaten their business. This has been the case in Benue and now Plateau State. In essence, the perpetrators of the killings are not hidden. So, if Buhari really wants to arrest and prosecute the killers, he could easily arrest the Miyetti Allah leaders since they can explain why the killings take place. Buhari deserves to be blamed for the Fulani herdsmen’s killings because he has refused to accept the need for him to review his security architecture. He has stuck to the nepotistic security architecture that is anchored on incompetence .If Buhari really wanted to check the killings why has he not appointed new service chiefs? Why has he not sacked the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali? Discerning Nigerian patriots think that the Fulani herdsmen’s crisis can be resolved through restructuring. It has been observed that restructuring would enable the states to work out their own security strategies to check a crisis like that of the Fulani herdsmen. The baleful consequence of the absence of a restructured polity is now seen in the predicament of Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara. He has no control over the security system in his state. The security chiefs in the state receive directives from Abuja. So no matter how much he is outraged at the carnage that is claiming his citizens, he cannot take a decisive measure to intervene. Yari has underscored his frustration with this incapacitating structure of the polity, when he declared that he was resigning from the office of the chief security officer of the state.

uHE4jJ01

While Buhari refuses to check the killings, we must be alert to the harm they are causing the nation. They have stoked ethnic hatred. The victims who survived their attacks only feel safe in their ethnic cocoons. The erosion of Nigerianess that the killings has provoked can be seen in the light of the prayer of some of the citizens during the Super Eagles’ match against Argentina in Russia. They were opposed to Nigeria winning because such victory would make Nigerians to forget the tragedies at home. They were afraid that banters would now centre on the Super Eagles’ victory and not on the killings and the overarching need to check their recurrence. It is obvious that the nation urgently needs clear-cut measures to check all these crises. But this sense of urgency is lost on Buhari. Such sense of urgency is blurred by Buhari’s quest for another four years. But it should be clear that Buhari needs another four years not to serve the nation but to demonstrate more loyalty to his fellow herdsmen. Blinded by this loyalty, Buhari cannot grasp his derailment encapsulated in the warning of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group that he has to choose between the presidency of Nigeria and that of Miyetti Allah. Perhaps, these killings are too far from the federal seat of power and this is why Buhari and his officials are not aware of the tragedies under which the nation is currently choking. In that case, we need to appropriate the admonition of the maverick Senator Shehu Sani that the victims of the Plateau killings should be buried close to Aso Rock. May be, when Buhari and his aides are confronted daily with these sad reminders of their tragic fecklessness, they would devise effective strategies to check the Fulani herdsmen plague. But it is not likely that this would even weaken Buhari’s ambition to snatch another four years from unwilling and bloodied citizens. But if those who want his return have their way, they should be ready for another four years of death and pain as he diminishes himself further and inflicts his Fulani herdsmen on them.

Killings: Fayose warns voters to draw lessons from APC states

Mercy Lank

Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday warned voters in the state to draw lessons from killings APC controlled states in the north and stop the spread to Ekiti State by rejecting the party in the forthcoming election. The governor gave the caution during a meeting with teachers, civil servants, and local government workers, according to a statement issued on his behalf by his chief press secretary, Idowu Adelusi. The five states mentioned were Plateau, Zamfara, Benue, Kaduna and Nasarawa States. According to him “voting APC in the July 14 election is an invitation to chaos, killing, raping of people’s wives and daughters by the killer herdsmen which the APC harbours. The governor called on the Ekiti people to reject APC and its candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to avert Ekiti becoming another Benue, Plateau, Zamfara and Kaduna states where the number of widows and orphans are increasing daily. The governor said since the killings started, the Federal Government had not been able to stop it, and the governors who belong to the APC were being careful not to offend the Presidency. “We all can see how the herdsmen have continued to kill, maim and rape innocent citizens daily. Even toddlers are not spared. “In Zamfara State, for instance, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, recently said he was resigning as the Chief Security Officer of his state. The truth is that the governors know what to do but cannot do it because they don’t want to offend the Presidency.

“In Benue, burial of people killed by the herdsmen has become a daily occurrence. Many communities have been deserted, and people now live in IDP camps, and the governor has resigned to fate because it is an APC state. “When the killer herdsmen invaded the farm of Chief Olu Falae, setting it ablaze, the governor couldn’t do anything because he did not want to offend the Presidency that helped him to power. “In Kaduna, another APC state, the killer herdsmen, and bandits are slaughtering the people like fowl and the government can not stop it. This is for you to know that there is no APC controlled state where the herdsmen have not become a terror to the people.” Fayose asked, “is this kind of situation you want in Ekiti?. Of course, the answer is No. In am very sure people can now see the difference between the PDP government and the APC. The PDP was in power for 16 years, and the security never became so moribund as it is now under the Buhari administration. The government is now noted for condemning but cannot stop the killings. Only insensitive people will vote APC. “The APC-controlled Federal Government has succeeded in producing more widows, and orphans in three years of its existence than 58 years of Nigeria’s existence as a nation. Not even during the Nigerian civil war was this figure recorded.”

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