The author of the above-titled rejoinder in the Friday issue of this great newspaper was on point. Those who started the politics of hatred, tribalism, religious enmity and envy are the real architects of the disintegration of this country.
Everyone is free to stay and carry out his/ her career; earn a living anywhere in Nigeria, except the Fulani. The Fulani Nation must be object of hate as their urban brothers who are very educated, sophisticated, rich, highly placed and well organized political juggernauts of the Nigerian politics. They cannot easily be overrun by their Southern counterparts who have some complex.
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The herdsmen are the true victims of the Western civilization as they have never enjoyed education, social and infrastructural development; cultural or political revolution. Not even the Qur’anic education as mostly, they have been too busy roaming the forests with their herds and flocks without settling down for change or improvement.
The federal authorities must come to their rescue the same way it was done time and again to the bankers, industrialists, importers, exporters, urban/ city dwellers, Niger Delta militants, farmers and crop processors. This aid can lead to modern animal husbandry, settled grazing, dairy farms, dairy industries, hides and skin as well as leather industries. The meat can then be transported to various parts of the country.
The idea of settling the bad Trojan politics of Yoruba-Igbo-Hausa/Fulani through castigating the unfortunate herdsmen must be discontinued for Nigeria to survive.
Every ethnic group of this country has its weaknesses and strengths. Likewise, each one has its good, bad and ugly. Crime is crime. But we cannot de-legalize an ethnic group simply because in their midst are some criminals. Whosoever breaks the law must be held responsible but not the entire village, clan or community. Now, we are asking for the largest ethnic group in the country to be held responsible for the few miscreants in their midst, while our own are scot-free.
Those asking the unfortunate herdsmen to vacate their state have already declared Nigerian state dead. Unfortunately, the central authority (Federal Government and the President) remained silent.
Governor Ganduje only spoke the truth. Let the Fulani herdsmen return home since we don’t belong to that part.
Dr. Saidu Samaila Msheliza writes via: [email protected]