Just like the time of Ese Orhuru and the initial shameful position of the Emirs palace, Former CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi again in an eloquent but shamefully biased style spoke on the Benue herdsmen killings in such a way that I got too tired of asking questions. Sanusi, a supposed nationalist and detribalised traditional leader, took his time to explain the failures of the security agencies, the government and politicians in curbing killings. He emphasised that killings are done by both sides- herdsmen and indigenes. He explained the desired prosperity and wishes of the patrons of Miyetti Allah of which he is one and the frustration caused by desertification and demographic implosion.
He said and i quote 'Grazing routes have been taken way by politicians. We have demographic implosion in the North, desertification, reduction in water reserves and competition for resources among various aspects of agriculture – crop production, animal husbandry and fishing.' My question is which politicians? Togolese or Niger? And if so, should your newly desired grazing routes/stock routes be forced on other peoples and destroy their means of livelihood?
Sanusi also said Miyeti Allah 'is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of herdsmen as Nigerians including constitutional right to freedom of movement and the ownership of private wealth and peaceful conduct of their business.” I believe anyone who understands English will question why Sanusi is deliberating merging clauses he knows that the Miyetti Allah does not obey. Did anyone question the ownership of wealth of these herdsmen or their perpetual desire to destroy the meagre private wealth of ordinary farmers in a bid to expand their own wealth.
Many Fulanis have lived down south for decades enjoying tenancy in different parts of southern Nigeria. It is only an accommodating landlord that allows tenancy of cows that defeacates inside classrooms roads rivers but when it comes to defending the cows for destroying the wealth of their landlords, there is no way the matter can ever be swept away. The southerners up north do not use their sales and products to destroy the wealth of northerners.
Sanusi forgot that we have seen these Fulanis during grazing shoot on even major roads at even drivers who hit their cows in an accident and neighbours had to help the driver scamper into safety. In no part of Nigeria or in any kind of farming in Nigeria, will a common motor accident lead to attempted killings like these fulanis always do.
How does Sanusi and Miyetti Allah see farm crops? As assets like cows or as something owned by no one that naturally grows from the ground? Why should SLS go on to tactically defend Miyetti Allah to leave the blame on security agencies without addressing the foundational cause of these killings which is farm crops destruction?
Could it be such backings that made even the IG initially see these killings as a common communal clash? Did you even notice that Sanusi didn't almost mention farm crops at all in this?
Does SLS know that cows to the herdsmen connotes crops to the farmer?
Does Sanusi know that losses and woes betides any farmer that has crops around a river when its time for these grazing cows to drink with Herdsmen making their animals graze leaving a heartless destruction of crops? With Sanusi's tone, is Sanusi ready to tell Nigerians how Miyetti Allah members get AK47 guns?
By precedence, the Sanusi we know is a man that takes everything he considers a wrongdoing to the public. Why was the dossier of the 800 fulanis killed in Taraba and Benue farmers and settlers not taken to the media? When the Media failed to tell the story, did he call a press conference to state his position?Or Is this killings a proof of revenge? Ranched cows are known to do well and produce better beef and quality milk than these frustrated trekking cows. Is Sanusi saying ranching cannot be done up north with planning?
The protection of cows has superseded the protection of humans. These thoughts make me worry about how I eat Nigerian beef. I am not willing to eat or drink anything that is raised and sustained on any human blood let alone the blood of innocent women and children. I don't want to become a cannibal.
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