Friday 15 April 2016

THE FULANI PLAGUE: ANINDICTMENT OF TIVLEADERSHIP

It is said that activity or movement does
not necessarily translate to progress, and
peculiar problems require peculiar
solutions. There has been a lot of activity
employed to bring a lasting solution to the
continuous attacks on Tiv people by Fulani
herds men, whom have over the years
transformed from peace loving, stick and
sword caring men, to machine gun wielding
terrorists. Who employ both physical and
supernatural means to kill, destroy and
displace those whose villages they have
grazed through for decades.
The reasons for this violence, apart from
obvious terrorism and acquisition of
grazing land and dominance, range from
attacks by Tiv men on cows, which on
many occasions destroy farm produce
belonging to these Tiv men, provoking
them into retaliation. Others include
disagreements over use and ownership of
lands, which are allocated to these Fulani
men by traditional rulers in those localities.
In many cases the allocation of these lands
is not in accordance with the wishes of
other members of the locality, while in
other situations Fulani herds men encroach
on lands that are not allocated to them,
The approaches that have been used to
tackle this tragedy have mostly been,
reactionary, cosmetic, short term and some
even counterproductive. Despite all the
blood that has been shed and the atrocities
committed by this men, Fulani men
wielding swords still walk our markets
unafraid and graze through our towns and
villages as though all is well .
A problem of this magnitude cannot be
solved by an uncoordinated or
unwholesome approach; this continuous
assault must first be recognized for what it
is, an insult and assault to and on the
entire Tiv race. Thus, for this problem to
be put to a final stop, the approach must
change from talk, committees, reports and
arming of militias, to something more
proactive and long lasting. The entire Tiv
race, championed by all its leaders,
irrespective of affiliations or sentiments
must come together with one purpose and
an unyielding resolve to ensure the end of
this senseless massacre. A well thought
out and permanent plan or solution must
be forged and then implemented with
ruthless efficiency. Such a plan or solution
should involve traditional and political
leaders, the legislature, the federal
government, the security forces, the Fulani
community, civil right organizations,
leaders of neighboring states, and all
Benue sons and daughters of influence,
home and abroad.
Now sadly, while Fulani herds men
constantly kill, rape, destroy farms and
produce and displace our people from their
villages, our leaders carry on with their
lavish political life styles as if all is well,
these people who are victims of terror have
house of assembly members, at the federal
and state levels, they have chairmen and
councilors, they have a governor, But their
plight is worse than that of a people who
do not have an identity or representation,
the leadership seem to be disconnected
with the realities these people face. The
fear of being attacked and killed at any
time and losing their only source of food
and income, their farms, is clear and
present. Some of those who run into town
are left with no choice but to live in
uncompleted buildings around town, many
young women become prostitutes to feed
themselves and family while boys take to
crime. But how can our leaders know this?
they seldom visit these places, as soon as
they are elected, they become larger than
life, they are mostly in Abuja or Jerusalem
or Dubai or celebrating birthdays and
thanks giving’s at every other date and too
busy being too busy.
While their people perish, they indulge in
petty political rivalry, power tussle and
politics of greed and self-interest; they do
not remember the reason why they were
even elected, till it is another election
season. On another hand, most Tiv youths
have lost all sense of belonging and
responsibility to their father land and
people; they have followed the path of our
politicians and shamelessly fight
themselves over crumbs that fall from the
tables of their masters.
Even more sad is the fact that our people
have this – “as long as it does not affect
me directly, it is not my business”
approach to all problems facing their
society and this ignorant ideology has
caused lot of setbacks to us as a people.
Problems that can only be tackled with
unity and collective effort cannot be solved
because our people are disunited and not
concerned about their fellow man, until one
of them is eventually directly affected.
When this happens the rest sympathize
and move on. The Tiv people of old where
know to be united and known to hid the
“Ayatutu” cry of their brothers, “one for all
and all for one”. Sadly, the capable and
influential Tiv people seem to be more
concerned with the selfish interests or
spoils that can be gotten from politics than
the collective advancement, image and
survival of their race, while many others,
especially the academia, are not concerned
at all.
Traditional structures that ought to be our
last defense against bad leadership and
external forces have fallen and lost its
voice, due to greed, and partisan politics.
Fulani herds men have killed hundreds and
displaced thousands of Tiv people, while
destroying properties worth billions, they
attacked the home of the late Tor Tiv some
time ago and till today meetings are
continuously being held, committees being
formed and funded and reports and
statements made, while the Fulani continue
to attack, kill, rape and occupy our
farmlands, the same lands where our
ancestors grew the food that fed us, thesame lands where our ancestors lay buried, possibly wondering what has gone wrong with their children.
+2348135465364
andrewahile@gmail.com

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