FOR NIGERIA’S CONTINUED FRAGILE UNITY – THE URGENT NEED FOR NORTHERN LEADERS TO BE CALLED TO ORDER AND BE GUIDED BY THEIR PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT HAVE AGGRAVATING DIVISIVE PROPENSITY
November 24, 2020 | News
I have always been one who believe in a united Nigeria, regardless of its troubles and diversities that are daily trying to break it apart.
FOR NIGERIA’S CONTINUED FRAGILE UNITY – THE URGENT NEED FOR NORTHERN LEADERS TO BE CALLED TO ORDER AND BE GUIDED BY THEIR PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT HAVE AGGRAVATING DIVISIVE PROPENSITY
I have always been one who believe in a united Nigeria, regardless of its troubles and diversities that are daily trying to break it apart. This is basically because a united Nigeria where ‘good governance is seen to be entrenched in all ramifications, is more beneficial to all and sundry considering the fact that a whole lot of Nigerians have settled and invested in places other than their original ancestral land. And I believe that if we must restructure the country, based on popular opinion, then it must be done to reflect the referendum wishes of the Nigerian people. However, I do not subscribe to having politically exposed persons, leaders and elders – be they in, or outside the Government; coming out publicly to make statements that are best described as provocative, aggravative and divisive. And in this case, reported statements made by Northern leaders, which only breed tension, apprehension, disunity, distrust and discord within the polity and amongst the Nigerian people. That is where those at the Presidency and National Assembly, should come in to call these supposed Northern leaders to Order.
We have seen and heard several reports, rumours and happenings in the country about the supposed “Islamization of Nigeria”, and more recently, the “Fulanization of Nigeria,” with daily evident practices and actions by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, and Northern Governors/Leaders, which make many Nigerians of the Southern parts to doubt the sincerity of this administrations, in dissuading them that these rumours are not true.
One of such statements was reported in May 2014, where, during the Northern Leaders Conference, one of the lead Speakers, Alhaji Usman Bugaje, laid claim to Nigeria’s crude oil which is mainly domiciled in the South-South of the Niger Delta area. According to him, it is wrong for any State to claim that it is oil producing because 72% of the total land mass in the country belongs to the North. And by the so-called United Nations law (if anything of such exists), only the North actually has the right to claim ownership. And that the offshore oil belongs to the North because of its land mass. The said claim by the Northern leaders is not only obnoxious, unreasonable and unfounded, it is also aggravating and provocative because it is worldly recognized and acknowledged that the South-South of the Niger Delta areas is predominantly where Nigeria’s crude oil and natural gas deposits are located. As such, no one has more claim to the areas, than the people of the South-South of the Niger Delta areas who daily (for years) still bear the brunt and adverse environmental effects of the extractive industry. Agreed that the Nigerian Federal Government, on account of the laws in our Constitution, has the constitutional right to be in control of the revenue derived from the natural resources in any part of the country, but the law also recognizes those as host communities of the areas where these natural resources are located. Hence, the 13% Derivation formular is paid to the Niger Delta States and not to those in the Northern Nigeria.
The North, can only lay claim to the natural resources discovered in its areas. Even at that, it must do so under the dictates and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, just the way it is being done to the South-South of the Niger Delta areas. Which is why it was considered wrong and an act of social injustice, when it was reported recently that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will give the Zamfara State Government a whopping N5 billion to supply gold to the apex bank. And many stakeholders like us have asked: if Zamfara State in Nigeria has the rights to own solid minerals, why is the South-South of the Niger Delta States are exempted from owning their mineral resources if the law is not biased? Why should States in the North own mineral resources in their State, whereas States in the South-South of the Niger Delta region do not have such rights? While these are issues that have been raised, which the Federal Government and National Assembly members need to look into and to address, the issue here is that such public statements by the Northern leaders laying claim to the oil resources in the South-South Niger of the Delta areas, is aggravating and divisive, and should not be encouraged at all.
Another more recent statement which points to the rumoured “Fulanization of Nigeria,” is the one made by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who, while in an interview with Channels Television, some months ago, talked about their plans with the Federal Government to approve a project that would allow Fulani herdsmen gathering from different parts of Africa to settle in Nigeria in grazing colony.
In his words: “…we want to cultivate that culture in the people while at the same time bring the Fulanis in one-fold, and try to arrest their traditional practices of moving from one place to another…because to them, they don’t have borders. They can move from Cameroun to Nigeria… the Fulani man is a global and African person. He moves from Gambia to the Senegal, and his nationality is just a Fulani herdsman… The Fulani speaks the Niger Delta language… we should take them as part of our own heritage. Something that is African… We cannot just close the borders and say the Fulani man is just a Nigerian. No! In most cases, the crises are precipitated by those outside Nigeria. Where there are reprisals, it is not the Fulani man within Nigeria that causes it. It is that culture of getting revenge, which is embedded in the tradition of the Fulani man…”
In other words, those Fulanis outside Nigeria can come into the country and benefit from the said planned program by the Federal Government. And that the Fulani man can settle anywhere he can feed his cattles, hence they want the program that will keep them in one place. When asked: Why should the Federal Government and Nigeria resources be used to fend for those Fulani persons that are not Nigerians? The Bauchi State Governor answered that: they are already accommodating them…. And that this has been presented to the Government for adoption by other States.
Any sane and well-meaning Nigerian would see that the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, does not really know what he was saying. Or the implications and consequences of what he was saying. While a lot of things were said in his statement which requires one to look at again, but there are others that stand out. How can a political leader of that status come out and say that all the Fulanis in Africa are Nigerians? And that our Nigerian borders should be left open for them to come in as they pleased in the name of grazing, to benefit from a program sponsored with the tax monies of Nigerians? How can someone from Senegal, Mali, Guinea, etc., be allowed to freely enter one’s ancestral land to inhabit as theirs in Nigeria? Is he aware of the security concerns that this portends to the territorial integrity of Nigeria?
Is the Governor aware that what we see today as unoccupied forests actually belong to the present and future generations of the indigenes of that area, and not for the Fulanis (be they from anywhere) to come and occupy in the name of grazing. Is the Governor aware that Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural diverse entity with about 520 languages, and over 1150 dialects? So, what is so special about the Fulani man and his cattle that all of this noise is being made? Why is it only the Fulanis, amongst the many number of ethnic groups in Nigeria, that should be given this special access to navigate any part of the country and they please, and be settled in a colony? Another question which the presenters of Channels Televisions failed to ask the Governor was: Given that the Fulani man is a ‘global citizen (according to him) that is without a country, who chose Nigeria for this Fulani Colony Project to be executed here? And Why? Is it because the President is from that North extraction? As such, they feel they can do whatever they like regardless of what other regions think?
That being said, if a Governor of a Nigerian State can be talking like this, about an agenda that is affecting the lives of the Nigerian people and entity, and not just his micro-State, then something is seriously wrong somewhere. Often times, I really do not understand the rationale behind most of the actions of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, in their style of governance as custodians of the nation’s resources. It makes one wonder if they are acting in the interest of the Nigerian people or they are more interested in fostering their own self-centered interests, which are usually to the detriment of the masses.
Under this President Buhari administration, we have had the controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlement issue, which according to them, was designed to settle the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle on acquired land across States in the federation. Under this Government we have Open Grazing project. Under this Government we have seen the resurrection of the rejected National Water Resources Bill, which was jettisoned in 2018 by the National Assembly after the Nigerian public kicked against it because the Bill was seeking to concentrate the control of rivers and water resources on the Central Government, and this does not only negate the agitation for restructuring, but it is also provocative, unfair, unjust, obnoxious and a crude assault on the spirit of federalism at a time when the calls for devolution of power have reached the crescendo. Under this Government we have seen the Federal Government’s approval of $1.9Billion for the construction of a rail line linking Nigeria to Niger Republic (which is another home to the Fulanis). Under this Government, they also constructed electricity transmission lines from Nigeria to the Niger Republic. Under this Government we have seen the announcement that nationals of all African countries can now enter Nigeria without a visa. Under this Government we have seen a situation where, while other countries were establishing capital punishment/tough stands against insurgency groups, the Nigerian Federal government under President Buhari are comfortable with rehabilitating and pampering them in the face of increasing insecurity.
Agreed that, the diversity and complexities of the make-up of Nigeria, explains the reason why the issue of nepotism, favouritism, ethnicitism, religion and political affiliations have been the attributing factors that have made the nation not to have political leaders that ought to be elected/appointed on merit to effectively and efficiently lead the country to great heights. But the degree and extent to which this is evident, usually stems from the person that is the Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And never have we seen such high level and degree of these delimiting attributes more evident in the President Buhari-led Federal Government than we have seen in past Governments.
Mind you, I am not against any religion in the country, provided it is not forced on any Nigerian. Any Nigerian has the Right to adopt any religion of his or her choice. I, for one, have trusted some of my Hausa/Fulani friends that I relate with, more than most of my Urhobo tribe people, and the Niger Delta people. I am only expressing my concerns here as a patriotic Nigerian who has noticed the divisive statements made by some Northern leaders/Elders, as well as the wrong actions of the President Buhari-led administration. In a comment by one of my Northern friends on this issue, he said: “Am sorry for my dear country, we are on a daily basis falling prey to our predators, going closer to anarchy through/by fabrication of fake and insidious news, poor, bad and incompetent leadership that breads corruption, hopelessness, fear, mistrust etc.... I pray that Nigeria shouldn't disintegrate, because it will be catastrophic.”
The majority of the Nigerian House of Representatives Members and Senators are nothing but stooges. Hence, they do not see anything wrong in all of these happenings in the country, to make them challenge some of the ill-advised actions of the President. They forget that they too, are supposed to be loyal to the Nigerian Constitution, and not loyal to an individual politician. The Constitution ought to be the deciding factor in the actions of political leaders. But here in Nigeria the Constitution is nothing to them.
Notwithstanding, if we do not want to use our hands to tear this country apart of ethnic lines, I believe that, as long as Nigeria remains one entity, it is imperative for the Political leaders at the Center, especially those of Northern extractions, to respect and regard every Nigerian ethnic group and its unique culture and diversity. Every one has their own culture and traditions too, just like the Fulanis. So, they should not be given such undue advantage over other tribes in the country. Nigeria should not be made a dumping ground for all the Fulanis in Africa. That is tantamount to chaos and anarchy. Every culture and religion should learn to respect and accommodate the other without any iota of bias and prejudice. There has to be that spirit of tolerance, so long as it does not threaten the habitation and lifestyles of one another. If a foreigner desires to come to Nigeria to stay, then he/she should be allowed to do so by following the legal process of nationalization. Not just coming into the country as they please to stay for a while and then start claiming things. The internal and external integrity of States and Nigerian borders respectively, should never be compromised for any person or group of persons.
The bottom line is that, such Careless and unbridled Public Statements by Northern leaders, that are seen to be divisive and aggravating, should be discouraged amongst all, especially by the Federal Government of the day. This also includes some of the actions of the Federal Government that only breeds disunity and division in the country. Such statements and actions are not good for the image of the country amongst the International community of nations. We therefor ask that the Nigerian Federal Government should call itself, and the Northern Leaders to Order, to desist from making such carless statements and taking actions that only seeks to divide us, and not unite us as a country.
Zik Gbemre.
November 24, 2020
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
I have always been one who believe in a united Nigeria, regardless of its troubles and diversities that are daily trying to break it apart. This is basically because a united Nigeria where ‘good governance is seen to be entrenched in all ramifications, is more beneficial to all and sundry considering the fact that a whole lot of Nigerians have settled and invested in places other than their original ancestral land. And I believe that if we must restructure the country, based on popular opinion, then it must be done to reflect the referendum wishes of the Nigerian people. However, I do not subscribe to having politically exposed persons, leaders and elders – be they in, or outside the Government; coming out publicly to make statements that are best described as provocative, aggravative and divisive. And in this case, reported statements made by Northern leaders, which only breed tension, apprehension, disunity, distrust and discord within the polity and amongst the Nigerian people. That is where those at the Presidency and National Assembly, should come in to call these supposed Northern leaders to Order.
We have seen and heard several reports, rumours and happenings in the country about the supposed “Islamization of Nigeria”, and more recently, the “Fulanization of Nigeria,” with daily evident practices and actions by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, and Northern Governors/Leaders, which make many Nigerians of the Southern parts to doubt the sincerity of this administrations, in dissuading them that these rumours are not true.
One of such statements was reported in May 2014, where, during the Northern Leaders Conference, one of the lead Speakers, Alhaji Usman Bugaje, laid claim to Nigeria’s crude oil which is mainly domiciled in the South-South of the Niger Delta area. According to him, it is wrong for any State to claim that it is oil producing because 72% of the total land mass in the country belongs to the North. And by the so-called United Nations law (if anything of such exists), only the North actually has the right to claim ownership. And that the offshore oil belongs to the North because of its land mass. The said claim by the Northern leaders is not only obnoxious, unreasonable and unfounded, it is also aggravating and provocative because it is worldly recognized and acknowledged that the South-South of the Niger Delta areas is predominantly where Nigeria’s crude oil and natural gas deposits are located. As such, no one has more claim to the areas, than the people of the South-South of the Niger Delta areas who daily (for years) still bear the brunt and adverse environmental effects of the extractive industry. Agreed that the Nigerian Federal Government, on account of the laws in our Constitution, has the constitutional right to be in control of the revenue derived from the natural resources in any part of the country, but the law also recognizes those as host communities of the areas where these natural resources are located. Hence, the 13% Derivation formular is paid to the Niger Delta States and not to those in the Northern Nigeria.
The North, can only lay claim to the natural resources discovered in its areas. Even at that, it must do so under the dictates and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, just the way it is being done to the South-South of the Niger Delta areas. Which is why it was considered wrong and an act of social injustice, when it was reported recently that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will give the Zamfara State Government a whopping N5 billion to supply gold to the apex bank. And many stakeholders like us have asked: if Zamfara State in Nigeria has the rights to own solid minerals, why is the South-South of the Niger Delta States are exempted from owning their mineral resources if the law is not biased? Why should States in the North own mineral resources in their State, whereas States in the South-South of the Niger Delta region do not have such rights? While these are issues that have been raised, which the Federal Government and National Assembly members need to look into and to address, the issue here is that such public statements by the Northern leaders laying claim to the oil resources in the South-South Niger of the Delta areas, is aggravating and divisive, and should not be encouraged at all.
Another more recent statement which points to the rumoured “Fulanization of Nigeria,” is the one made by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who, while in an interview with Channels Television, some months ago, talked about their plans with the Federal Government to approve a project that would allow Fulani herdsmen gathering from different parts of Africa to settle in Nigeria in grazing colony.
In his words: “…we want to cultivate that culture in the people while at the same time bring the Fulanis in one-fold, and try to arrest their traditional practices of moving from one place to another…because to them, they don’t have borders. They can move from Cameroun to Nigeria… the Fulani man is a global and African person. He moves from Gambia to the Senegal, and his nationality is just a Fulani herdsman… The Fulani speaks the Niger Delta language… we should take them as part of our own heritage. Something that is African… We cannot just close the borders and say the Fulani man is just a Nigerian. No! In most cases, the crises are precipitated by those outside Nigeria. Where there are reprisals, it is not the Fulani man within Nigeria that causes it. It is that culture of getting revenge, which is embedded in the tradition of the Fulani man…”
In other words, those Fulanis outside Nigeria can come into the country and benefit from the said planned program by the Federal Government. And that the Fulani man can settle anywhere he can feed his cattles, hence they want the program that will keep them in one place. When asked: Why should the Federal Government and Nigeria resources be used to fend for those Fulani persons that are not Nigerians? The Bauchi State Governor answered that: they are already accommodating them…. And that this has been presented to the Government for adoption by other States.
Any sane and well-meaning Nigerian would see that the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, does not really know what he was saying. Or the implications and consequences of what he was saying. While a lot of things were said in his statement which requires one to look at again, but there are others that stand out. How can a political leader of that status come out and say that all the Fulanis in Africa are Nigerians? And that our Nigerian borders should be left open for them to come in as they pleased in the name of grazing, to benefit from a program sponsored with the tax monies of Nigerians? How can someone from Senegal, Mali, Guinea, etc., be allowed to freely enter one’s ancestral land to inhabit as theirs in Nigeria? Is he aware of the security concerns that this portends to the territorial integrity of Nigeria?
Is the Governor aware that what we see today as unoccupied forests actually belong to the present and future generations of the indigenes of that area, and not for the Fulanis (be they from anywhere) to come and occupy in the name of grazing. Is the Governor aware that Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural diverse entity with about 520 languages, and over 1150 dialects? So, what is so special about the Fulani man and his cattle that all of this noise is being made? Why is it only the Fulanis, amongst the many number of ethnic groups in Nigeria, that should be given this special access to navigate any part of the country and they please, and be settled in a colony? Another question which the presenters of Channels Televisions failed to ask the Governor was: Given that the Fulani man is a ‘global citizen (according to him) that is without a country, who chose Nigeria for this Fulani Colony Project to be executed here? And Why? Is it because the President is from that North extraction? As such, they feel they can do whatever they like regardless of what other regions think?
That being said, if a Governor of a Nigerian State can be talking like this, about an agenda that is affecting the lives of the Nigerian people and entity, and not just his micro-State, then something is seriously wrong somewhere. Often times, I really do not understand the rationale behind most of the actions of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, in their style of governance as custodians of the nation’s resources. It makes one wonder if they are acting in the interest of the Nigerian people or they are more interested in fostering their own self-centered interests, which are usually to the detriment of the masses.
Under this President Buhari administration, we have had the controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlement issue, which according to them, was designed to settle the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle on acquired land across States in the federation. Under this Government we have Open Grazing project. Under this Government we have seen the resurrection of the rejected National Water Resources Bill, which was jettisoned in 2018 by the National Assembly after the Nigerian public kicked against it because the Bill was seeking to concentrate the control of rivers and water resources on the Central Government, and this does not only negate the agitation for restructuring, but it is also provocative, unfair, unjust, obnoxious and a crude assault on the spirit of federalism at a time when the calls for devolution of power have reached the crescendo. Under this Government we have seen the Federal Government’s approval of $1.9Billion for the construction of a rail line linking Nigeria to Niger Republic (which is another home to the Fulanis). Under this Government, they also constructed electricity transmission lines from Nigeria to the Niger Republic. Under this Government we have seen the announcement that nationals of all African countries can now enter Nigeria without a visa. Under this Government we have seen a situation where, while other countries were establishing capital punishment/tough stands against insurgency groups, the Nigerian Federal government under President Buhari are comfortable with rehabilitating and pampering them in the face of increasing insecurity.
Agreed that, the diversity and complexities of the make-up of Nigeria, explains the reason why the issue of nepotism, favouritism, ethnicitism, religion and political affiliations have been the attributing factors that have made the nation not to have political leaders that ought to be elected/appointed on merit to effectively and efficiently lead the country to great heights. But the degree and extent to which this is evident, usually stems from the person that is the Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And never have we seen such high level and degree of these delimiting attributes more evident in the President Buhari-led Federal Government than we have seen in past Governments.
Mind you, I am not against any religion in the country, provided it is not forced on any Nigerian. Any Nigerian has the Right to adopt any religion of his or her choice. I, for one, have trusted some of my Hausa/Fulani friends that I relate with, more than most of my Urhobo tribe people, and the Niger Delta people. I am only expressing my concerns here as a patriotic Nigerian who has noticed the divisive statements made by some Northern leaders/Elders, as well as the wrong actions of the President Buhari-led administration. In a comment by one of my Northern friends on this issue, he said: “Am sorry for my dear country, we are on a daily basis falling prey to our predators, going closer to anarchy through/by fabrication of fake and insidious news, poor, bad and incompetent leadership that breads corruption, hopelessness, fear, mistrust etc.... I pray that Nigeria shouldn't disintegrate, because it will be catastrophic.”
The majority of the Nigerian House of Representatives Members and Senators are nothing but stooges. Hence, they do not see anything wrong in all of these happenings in the country, to make them challenge some of the ill-advised actions of the President. They forget that they too, are supposed to be loyal to the Nigerian Constitution, and not loyal to an individual politician. The Constitution ought to be the deciding factor in the actions of political leaders. But here in Nigeria the Constitution is nothing to them.
Notwithstanding, if we do not want to use our hands to tear this country apart of ethnic lines, I believe that, as long as Nigeria remains one entity, it is imperative for the Political leaders at the Center, especially those of Northern extractions, to respect and regard every Nigerian ethnic group and its unique culture and diversity. Every one has their own culture and traditions too, just like the Fulanis. So, they should not be given such undue advantage over other tribes in the country. Nigeria should not be made a dumping ground for all the Fulanis in Africa. That is tantamount to chaos and anarchy. Every culture and religion should learn to respect and accommodate the other without any iota of bias and prejudice. There has to be that spirit of tolerance, so long as it does not threaten the habitation and lifestyles of one another. If a foreigner desires to come to Nigeria to stay, then he/she should be allowed to do so by following the legal process of nationalization. Not just coming into the country as they please to stay for a while and then start claiming things. The internal and external integrity of States and Nigerian borders respectively, should never be compromised for any person or group of persons.
The bottom line is that, such Careless and unbridled Public Statements by Northern leaders, that are seen to be divisive and aggravating, should be discouraged amongst all, especially by the Federal Government of the day. This also includes some of the actions of the Federal Government that only breeds disunity and division in the country. Such statements and actions are not good for the image of the country amongst the International community of nations. We therefor ask that the Nigerian Federal Government should call itself, and the Northern Leaders to Order, to desist from making such carless statements and taking actions that only seeks to divide us, and not unite us as a country.
Zik Gbemre.
November 24, 2020
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes