In the diverse ways as reflected by the manner we respond to emergent issues in our polity, prevalence of emotions, sentiments and indignation has always been the norm.
In other words, the depth of reaction and reasoning are informed by individual but varied perceptions of issues even when we all agreed that something is wrong with the well-being of our country.
The effusion and responses to President Donald Trump of America’s threat to intervene military wise in Nigeria to defend the perceived Christian population now under siege of three evil scourge of the North-Banditry, Kidnapping and Terrorism has been as deep and sometime emotional as the deep could be.
It is without disputation that lure of emotions naturally knows no logic when matters of Faith rears its head.
There are many strong voices out there like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of RCCG, who last Saturday spoke his mind and expressed anger from the lack of will by successive leaders to curb the scourge of ethnoreligious killings.
After all, there is a saying that, ‘Agba ki wa loja, ki ori omo titun wo’.
Cautious elders and strong voices like Adeboye shouldn’t be expected to sit by while our Rome burns.
Yes, Nigerians especially those who felt the scourge of Islamic jihad and irredentism being championed by both ISIS, ISWAP, Fulani Herders and local state actors engaged in farming has been vociferous to test our individual resilience to challenges.
The matter becomes more complex when local Fulani who had hitherto enjoy grazing of their Cattle suddenly find partners in terrorist groups like ISIS, ISWAP now being used to displace original land owners.
From the Agatu in Benue to the Birom in Plateau who were direct victims of creation of a local government by military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida it has been sorrow, tears and blood.
The spate of killings and internal displacement in these areas by hitherto strangers who collaborated with ISIS, ISWAP who also in turn hide under the Fulani herders to kill, maim and destroy thousands of Christian faithfuls who are the original and dominant owners of these ancestral lands and conclave.
Terrorists getting cooperation and support from Fulani herders both to conquer and displaced original land owners put a big question on the soft landing ‘policy’ of weak governors in the state who gleefully paid ransom to kidnappers and herders who now establish a nexus with foreign terrorists with their Islamisation and Fulanisation agenda.
What is more, the trail of blood mostly of Christians is enough alibi for President Donald Trump whose country get affronted with Africa countries ‘audacity’ and affront in seeking to seek solace in BRICS as an alternative alliance for new world order.
The BRICS as it is today is a challenge to the centuries of western world domination of economic spheres.
Americas quiet isolation by the Aid seeking African and third world economies is enough to anger Trump who also felt slighted by Nigeria’s decision to reject unwanted immigrant from America even as it rejected ‘offers to have sole mining rights of Lithium from middle belt states and Core North states of Zamfara.
This is coupled with Aliko Dangote’s inroad into America with refined Petroleum products shutting Nigeria’s doors from importing refined Petroleum from the country.
Yes, these are inexpressible dangerous policies underneath Trump’s belly seen as a threat to US, the weak attitude of Nigeria and its leaders to managing ethno-religious squabbles which has left thousands of death in its trail is questionable.
That Trump has a newly created War Department is an indication of his preparedness to cut to size Nigeria and other errant African countries ‘arrogant’ rebuff.
Since economic and strategic interests are crucial to America irrespective of whichever party is in power- the latest attitude as defined only by sitting President Trump, a republican with Cow boy mannerism, is different.
He had every reason to be ‘offended’ by Nigeria’s refusal to accommodate America’s large-heartedness to immigrants and his failure to find home for them in Nigeria.
The lack of political will by successive leaders to give all in order to fight Terrorism and its twin sins of banditry, kidnaping, Islamisation and Fulanisation is without question.
While attitude of religious leaders who subtly hail Trumps meddlesomeness is logical given her helplessness from state actors in the government and military which efforts at annihilating Terrorism is next to nothing. It is seen as grand attempt at Islamisation and Fulanisation of the country.
Furthermore, domination of military high command by Fulani irredentists purposely recruited and promoted to strategic commands by the regime of Muhammadu Buhari gave credence to the claim by Christians’ who pointed out the spate of unchallenged killings in Benue, Plateau, Kogi and lately Kwara populated by Christian farmers who have enjoyed their farmlands over centuries.
That they are being serially killed by ISIS and ISWAP terrorists in the last two years is convincing enough to prove that, government consciously supported non- state actors to wipe out Christians in the North and extend their conquering army down south through the middle belt and northern theatre of mass killings.
It is equally justifiable to claim that mass killings was a conscious effort at Islamisation helped by Islam inspired officers of Fulani extraction in the security forces. It is obvious that their grand plan is to conclude the planting of absolute Islamic states in the North and South of the Atlantic as reflected by Uthman Dan Fodios archaic mission and dream to dip the Koran inside the Atlantic Ocean.
However, protective as Christian leaders and adherents who pointed out these ethno-religious killings, they couldn’t afford to invite foreigners to liberate them especially since strategic and economic interest of the United States far outweigh the saviour tag now put on them.
Should we cut our nose to spite our face?
But then as a friend said, you cannot blame those who over the years face eviction threats in their ancestral land while the country’s security forces are helpless through the ‘connivance’ of leaders in government and security forces from welcoming external forces of liberation however tenuous it is.
But then, experience of what the United States did in Libya, Iraq, Somalia and other countries they have intervened points to pain sorrow, economic subjugation and instability which will take those nations decades to recover from if at all they do.
Billions of dollars recoup by the United States after their ‘messianic ‘ operations in these countries remains to be establish just as state instability planted therein by conquering forces are insurmountable.
In Nigeria, Trumps intervention to curb and possibly wipe out Islamic insurgents will definitely leave behind in its trail a fragile state not able to stand for decades not to talk of despoilation, disruption and stripping of mineral resources of Nigeria that would be of unquantifiable value in the 21st century where solid minerals shape inventions, revenue and development.
Christian leaders in the southern parts of the country should also be reminded that the ravaging effect of military operation in the Northern forests and cities would extend far beyond southern region both in physical destruction and human capital annihilation.
Latest technology of war in the hands of the United States though could be guided in deployment, but it’s restriction to targeted areas is never for once guaranteed.
In other words, destruction in the North will equally be felt in the South as its human resources would also be used to rebuild what is left.
Trumps boasting that, ‘Nigeria will not like what we will do’, shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Application of pressures on the United States and its allies to press for structural changes in Nigeria’s Constitution to free the country from internal colonialists is long lasting and enduring to keep the state than America’s precise blitzkrieg which effect would leave Nigeria in ruins especially at a time we are just emerging from economic despoilation visited on us by the rapacious ethnic, religious and political class since the last 17 years the Boko haram war started .
Our case should not be like the man who turn his back outside and urinate inside his house. When he returns, he will meet the mess his decision has caused.
In Yoruba parlance, ohun to wa ninu Ofa o ju oje lo.
Proponents of Fulanisation and Islamisation should be told that there won’t be any country left for them to dominate and Islamize in the aftermath of United States invasion.
President Bola Tinubu owes it a duty to summon will and courage he has displayed in tackling our economic decline to tell Northern power brokers and irridentists that their passion to dominate and rape the country belong to the medieval age of slavery, savagery.
They should be told we are in a modern world where the Saudi and other indigent Islamic countries now crave for and embrace modernity with its improved living standard for her people.
To religious zealots and their destructive tendencies, Enough Is Enough!
RE: South-West: Beyond Rhetorics, Declarations
I can see your handwriting on the article, so Congratulations.
My short rejoinder is on Education
The South West Block should declare a ‘Free Education for the Public Schools in the Region
They can do it in consultation with the Federal Government
Graduates of those schools should sign up to a National Skills Training Programme for a two-year period
This will equip them with transferable skills that will equip them for a better future for life
Although it should start at the Regional Level, the Federal Government will be encouraged to adopt it as a Federal Government Educational Program to eliminate unemployment and criminal activity nationwide
Good morning, Olatunde.
ADE ADEWOLU, PhD, MNIA
