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The decision of the Southeast Governors' Forum to deny land allocation for livestock is understandable, ensuring peaceful coexistence at this time, however, requires the support of all, writes Tobi Soniyi
The federal government's response to seemingly inextricable clashes between ranchers and farmers, it is hard to criticize the decision of the Southeast governors not to give up any land on their territory for breeding.
Since he became president on May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has not concealed his dissatisfaction for the Southeast. The offense in the Southeast Zone, perhaps, was that they chose to side with the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 presidential election. 19659004] During the uprising of the indigenous peoples of Biafra, the president did not show leadership the people of the region. Instead, he unleashed the army on the people and outlawed the group, which further removed people from mainstream politics.
Remove the Niger Bridge project, which is not even treated as a priority project. Progressives The government led by Congress has not made its presence felt in the Southeast. The government has not given the people the slightest sense of belonging.
Given the cold treatment of the shoulder given to the Southeast by the President, coupled with the prevailing anti-Buhari sentiment in the area, no governor in his right sense would agree to grant land for breeding. The president has not done enough to win such a gesture.
In addition, many have argued that livestock raising is a private matter, as is the trade in auto spare parts, and that those who work there should be able to purchase the land that they would use for l & # 39; breeding.
It is difficult to criticize the arguments raised above, they have generally missed a point that is: Fulani pastoralists are as at risk as all other vulnerable groups in the country. The Buhari-led government has not only failed in the Southeast; he also failed Fulani pastoralists
. Many shepherds wanted peace. They are only interested in feeding their animals. Farmers and shepherds have always lived together peacefully, as there was friction from time to time. But these are the exceptions and not the rule.
The question that the governors of the Southeast should ask themselves is: what did the Buhari government do to help the shepherds? The answer is nothing. Fulani pastors would like to send their children to school, but the government has not helped them to achieve this goal.
They want their cattle to eat better so that they can get a better return, no one helps them. They are as threatened as farmers and other vulnerable groups. This government has failed the shepherds and, to a greater extent, past administrations have also missed them.
Government at all levels must therefore find a common way to integrate Fulani pastoralists into society. Fulanis are not wired like killers. This is the collective failure of the people as a nation that drove Nigeria into the desert. Leadership must therefore chart a way out. The governors of the Southeast and the people should be part of this effort.
To begin, while the country is still working on a final solution, in each local government, the government can set up a farmer-herder relationship committee, including representatives of farmers and shepherds.
If animals trample on a farm, the owner of the farm should report to the committee. Similarly, if an animal is killed, the owner of the animal must report to the committee. Immediately, the committee is alerted, they must identify the culprit, badess the damage and ask the farmer or the lost shepherd to compensate the person whose property was destroyed.
The clashes in the country are largely fueled by lack of accountability. When an animal belonging to a breeder is killed and there is no guarantee that compensation will be paid, the breeder will get revenge naturally. The same goes for the farmer. Liability is a serious problem. But the leadership seems too biased to see the point.
Therefore, the story that farmers and ranchers and, by extension, the whole country can no longer live together is false. People can, regardless of their different backgrounds and have lived together. What needs to be addressed is the issue of injustice, which manifests itself in various ways. Let the government respect the laws. That there are consequences for bad conduct. The crisis will not disappear, it will only shrink.
Unfortunately, Nigerian leaders seem to be unable to understand the issues. Statements from the Presidency show that those in government are not ready to take the critical steps needed to stop the crisis.
For example, the government's apology for the clashes continues to change every other day. First, it was the adoption of anti-grazing laws. But hundreds of people were killed in the Plateau, where there was no anti-grazing law. Then the president blamed the rebels of Libya.
Later, it was climate change. Suddenly, politicians are behind the killings. And now, the president says politicians use murders to blackmail him. Blaming the killings on everyone else is not helpful. He portrays the country as unable to identify and solve problems.
To date, the president should have convened a meeting of shepherds and farmers to be held at Aso Rock Villa and broadcast live for all. Let them sit down together and tell the Nigerians their grievances. From there, a common solution can be developed
In the interest of the nation, Southeast governors should reconsider their position and be part of a solution to this national disease
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