By Felix Eghie Sugaba

Agents of Nigerian Central (Federal) Government, are at it again. This time, against the backdrop of the recent communique issued by the Governors of Southern Nigeria after their meeting in Delta State. As always, they are neither pretentious nor disguising their allegiance, even as they masquerade as officials of the Nigerian State. The choristers of Nigerian dominant and bulling tribe have upped their sleeves in unison, condemning the Communique, hauling and spewing gutter verbiage over the airwaves.

Southern Governors Communique

The communique essentially bans open grazing of cattle across the land, and calls for National Dialogue to facilitate a political and economic restructure of the country. The Governors pledged their commitment to “peaceful co-existence on the basis of justice, fairness and equity”. Ordinarily, one would wonder why anyone would fault a call for a measure, that is targeted at dealing with a monstrous hurricane of insecurity that is currently sweeping the land. To do so is to betray a sense of naivety over the hugely determined, savaged and mean political force that is confronting the country.

The Lawans and Malamis, are telling us to cling to the Fulani primordial way of life, no matter the cost and consequences. They want Nigerians to regard the existential danger to our polity, as significantly inconsequential to the overall interests of the Fulani herdsmen/herdsmen. It is a total shame that we hear nothing, see nothing, emulate nothing and learn nothing from other nations.

Foreign Lessons

There is nowhere in Europe where open grazing is practiced. Holland, a country of 17 million people (the same population as Kano), does not graze her cows in the open. Yet, it is one of the world’s highest producers of milk products.

In 2019, Holland exported 17 million kilos of skimmed milk to Germany. To the Philippines, it exported 12.7 million kilos. Cheese export to Germany alone in the same period, fetched her Euros1.2 billion.

New Zealand (population five million), a country that is one third of the population of Kano, has a yearly export value of milk products of over $6 billion.

Nigeria expends her hard currency on importation of milk products from other countries, as if Nigerian cows are bereft of milk. It is puzzling that no government at any level or private individual in the North, has deemed it worthy to invest in such vital industry. Yet, we are arrogantly being wheedled by their official agents to welcome the marauding herdsmen and their barren cows into our farms, cities and living rooms. It attests to a country, that is bent on destroying itself.

Dialogue and Restructuring

How does one reconcile the obfuscate stance of the Fulani herdsmen/herdsmen and their seeming disdain for dialogue? In security parlance, achievement is deemed to have been made if the warring parties agree to a dialogue, in that such agreement is an indication that the parties recognise the problem. Dialogue is only possible, if waring parties agree to dialogue. Given the number of conferences we have convoked in the country, and the plethora of communiques and recommendations that the powers that be in Nigeria banished to the dust bin of no-history, it is apparent that the South has been dialoguing with itself. Some of the North has never been, and it is still not interested in dialogue. It is not interested in any kind of restructuring that will result in economic or political tampering with its Father Christmas Central government.

Why would they dialogue over 68 items on the exclusive list that is at their beck and call? Why would they agree to dialogue, when they unequivocally believe that this powerful and humongous presidency is their birth right? Why would they succumb to dialogue, when the leadership of a considerable number of the Parastatals like NPA, NNPC, FCT and the MDA´s are exclusively `zoned` to them?

As the agitation for secession gains steam across the country, it is increasingly becoming difficult not to find merit in the position taken by the arrow heads of the secessionist groups. The middle ground is shrinking, by the day. The moderate voices of the Falanas and the Agbakobas are fading and drowning gradually, in this sea of Fulani/Northern intransigence and bully.

The lesson herein, is audible enough for the deaf to comprehend. The South is flirting with a whirlwind, that tears into pieces every flag of peace and olive branch that is extended to it. The Fulani is neither apologetic nor remorseful over its political crusade of conquer and dominate. The reality on ground does not suggest, or indicate otherwise. Where therefore, lies our optimism for one Nigeria?

Somebody should tell the Senate President, to direct his sarcastic statement to the marines. The Military that concocted the pieces of papers it called Nigerian Constitution, ensured that the National Assembly was Hausa/Fulani dominated. This is the forum the Senate President is calling the South to seek respite. It is akin to asking the thief who stole and butchered a pig, to join the search for the pig.

Let us face it. Who needs war? Nobody, of course. But, war is a diplomatic tool that is used to settle scores when all else fails. The current circumstances indicate that the options are fast running out and the drum beats of war are sounding. Abiola once said “if rape was inevitable, a woman would lie down and enjoy it”. This rape on our collective sensibility is repel-able. The rape on our dignity is preventable. The rape on our freedom, is avoidable. The rape on our resources, is resistible. By their communique, the Southern Governors have so indicated. It is clear and audible, for all to hear.

Felix Eghie Patrick Sugaba, Zurich, Switzerland