Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted,
the indifference of those who should have known better and the silence of
the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil
to triumph – His Royal Majesty Haile Selassie 1, Emperor of Ethiopia.
IF there was ever a time to remember the words of Haile Selassie and speak
out against evil this is it. With the abduction of the elder statesman and
June 12 struggle hero, Chief Olu Falae, from his home by a group of Fulani
herdsmen in south western Nigeria it is time for us to seriously consider the
expulsion of all Fulani herdsmen from the southern part of our country.
We thank God and
commend the efforts of the
Inspector-General of the
Nigerian police that Chief
Falae was returned home
safely after a harrowing
three days. Given his
status in Yoruba land, had
this not been so there
would have been
cataclysmic consequences
for the unity of our
country.
It is because we wish to avoid such a scenario that it is important that we
get these marauders and vandals out of our territory as quickly as possible.
This is especially so given the fact that, by Falae’s testimony, it is clear that
the Fulani herdsmen that abducted him were working hand in hand with
Boko Haram.
East Africantse-tse fly
These herdsmen have become the pests of our nation. They are like the East
African tse-tse fly: wherever they go they suck the life blood out of their
hosts and, like the locust, they destroy everything in their path. They are like
leeches: they indulge in a parasitic mode of nutrition and they suck the
blood of the carcass until their victim is left for dead.
Like the Arab supporter of APC, they are only known for the most hideous of
things. This includes terror, intimidation, theft, murder, rape, abduction,
mutilation, the violation of the rights of others, the destruction of the land
and crops of farmers and the destruction of property.
Anyone that doubts this should ask the people of the north central zone
what they have been suffering in the hands of these vagabonds and
vagrants for the last 50 years. This is especially so in Plateau, Benue, Niger,
Kwara, Nassarawa, Taraba and Adamawa states.
Yet up until 20 years ago this was essentially a northern problem and it did
not affect the south. Sadly that has changed. It has now become a national
plague that knows no boundaries and whose poison threatens to consume
us all. In the last few years the Fulani herdsmen have attacked, ravaged and
pillaged many rural communities south of the River Niger and they have
slaughtered and raped thousands of innocent people in the South-South, the
South-East and the South-Western zones of our country.
We recall how, after a
violent clash between
them and some
Yoruba farmers in Oyo
State in 2000, General
Buhari (as he then
was) led a strong
delegation of northern
leaders to see the late
Governor of Oyo State,
Governor Lam Adesina.
On arrival Buhari put
the following question to him: “why are your people killing my people?” This
was a classic case of a Freudian slip. The Bible says ”out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks”. The general had spoken his mind.
Governor Adesina was shocked with disbelief and he responded by telling
Buhari that he was rather surprised that a former Head of State would refer
to one ethnic group as “his” people whilst referring to another as someone
else’s. He said that this was especially so given the fact that people were
killed on both sides of the divide in what was a sad and unfortunate conflict.
The insensitivity of Buhari to the Yoruba farmers and their plight in the
hands of the Fulani raiders was noted from that moment on. Ever since that
conversation took place the lines have been drawn and the South West has
been on alert.
The abduction of Falae may well have brought things to a head because
today virtually every self-respecting Yoruba man is calling for strong
resistance to these alien cattle-rearers whose criminal activities have led to
nothing but blood, tears and carnage. If the government refuses to stop
them then it is very clear that some communities may end up doing so
themselves.
Yet there is an even more sinister dimension to this problem than most
people care to admit. That dimension is best illustrated by the following
question. Can there be any truth in the assertion that the Fulani herdsmen
are nothing less than the vanguard and covert armed wing of the Fulani
ruling class which has managed to infiltrate the south under the ingenious
guise of selling cows?
Are they sleeper cells of a much bigger army and a much wider cause? Are
they, as Falae has suggested, working hand in hand with Boko Haram? If a
major conflict were to arise would those sleeper cells be activated and
would they commence the wholesale slaughter of the indigenous population
in their host states? As painful as it may appear these are questions that we
must ask.
The fact that the herdsmen demanded for a 100 million naira ransom from
Falae speaks volumes. The question is this: what do mere cattle-rearers
want with 100 million naira? Even more instructive is the fact that when
they were offered two million naira they responded by saying that that
amount would not be enough for Boko Haram.
Given all this, it is clear to me that we must begin to look at the wider
picture. We must accept the ugly reality that there may be more to all this
than meets the eye. This is especially so given the fact that up until the
time of writing this piece not one of Falae’s captors has been apprehended
by the police and they seem to have vanished into thin air.
One wonders what transpired. Were they granted amnesty or are they
ghosts? Can there be any truth in the suggestion that there was some kind
of official collusion in the abduction? Was it an attempt to put Falae, and by
extension the Yoruba, in their place for vigorously supporting the idea of a
national conference?
Is it an attempt to intimidate those from the South West that opposed
President Buhari in the 2015 presidential elections? If so it will not
work. Afenifere, the leading socio-cultural group of the South West of which
Falae is a leading member, and the Yoruba people generally have a way of
rising to the occasion when they are threatened, cheated or persecuted.
History proves that. Worthy of note are the words of Dr. Frederick Fasheun
and Otunba Gani Adams, both leaders of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC)
in this matter. Only the unwise would ignore their counsel.
The question is this: who is pulling the strings from behind the scenes and
who is attempting to test our resolve and test the waters? Whatever the
answer to these questions are one thing remains clear. The days of killing
people with impunity and stripping them of their lands and possessions are
long over.
The Fulani herdsmen may well believe that they have one of their own in the
Villa today but that does not mean that they will get away with their
murderous ways or their sheer impunity. It is most unwise for them to
continue to test the resolve of the people of the south in this way.
I say this because collectively southerners are slow to anger but irresistible
in battle. When pushed to the wall they often indulge in what Dr. Amanze
Obi, the respected columnist for Nigeria’s Sun newspaper, once described as
”southern fury”.
Permit me to conclude this intervention with an interesting and relevant
contribution from the famous British historian, writer and educationalist Dr.
T.R. Batten. He wrote: “The Fulani were at their most influential in
Gobir.Then a dispute broke out between their Imam, Usman Dan Fodio and
Sarkin Gobir Yunfa.
The Fulani rallied behind their leader who encouraged him to defy their
Hausa Chief. He began a jihad and fighting broke out. Thus the Fulani seized
the country by force against the will of those who lived there. The enmity
had nothing to do with religion for among those who fought (against the
Fulani) were many Muslims. It was about the Fulani’s wish to seize power
from the Hausas.”
It follows that the herdsman and those that they represent conquer by
infiltration, assimilation and guile. Those that doubt this should find out
what became of the ancient Hausa kingdoms. May God deliver us from the
vagabonds and vagrants in our midst.
Written by Femi Fani Kayode
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/the-herdsmen-from-hell-by-fani-kayode/
cc: lalasticlala ishilove seun

FFK is trying too hard to get noticed and called upon to come dine with people at the top of the food chain, just the same way he lashed out endlessly at Jonathan until he was invited to the table. Sadly, that technique seems to have fallen flat on its face this time around, reason why every subsequent article of his becomes laced more and more with inciting ethnic and religious innuendoes.

Everyone know his antecedents hence only barbarians like himself would take him seriously.

When he was on the other side, he insulted the Igbos and PDP making himself look like a pro Yoruba nationalist, when he crossed over, he took it out on Yorubas, becoming a self appointed spokesman for Igbos- for him, it is always about ethnicity and religion, and conveniently so- they happen to be the two elements that are sure to get the juices in Nigerians flowing these days. Even on the forum, any thread that appears to pitch the two tribes or religion against one another run into tens of pages less than 24 hrs after its creation.

FFK, like I always say, is a hazard to himself, his family, and a threat to our national security. His desperation and primitive lust for power, money and respect makes him disregard inhibitions and courtesy when he opens his mouth to speak. This same man once told us Jonathan was bound to bring nothing but doom to this nation and other such statements, today,.....

I believe when all the dust settles, people like himself wouldn't even get as much as a cold floor by the porch upon which to lay their wasted bodies, let alone given press coverage.

Only time would tell.

This is a wake up call. Not wanting to sound tribalistic, I must say that the easterners should sit back, watch and pray...do not act or support or person or group of people in this unfolding drama...

Let's just hope for the greater good.

#GodBlessNigeria


[/b]Caveat: I must repeat my initial assertion, there is or was no intent to sound tribalistic. [b]

OPC should be activated! Period!

omenka:
FFK is trying too hard to get noticed and called upon to come dine with people at the top of the food chain, just the same way he lashed out endlessly at Jonathan until he was invited to the table. Sadly, that technique seems to have fallen flat on its face this time around, reason why every subsequent article of his becomes laced more and more with inciting ethnic and religious innuendoes.

Everyone know his antecedents hence only barbarians like himself would take him seriously.

When he was on the other side, he insulted the Igbos and PDP making himself look like a pro Yoruba nationalist, when he crossed over, he took it out on Yorubas, becoming a self appointed spokesman for Igbos- for him, it is always about ethnicity and religion, and conveniently so- they happen to be the two elements that are sure to get the juices in Nigerians flowing these days. Even on the forum, any thread that appears to pitch the two tribes or religion against one another run into tens of pages less than 24 hrs after its creation.

FFK, like I always say, is a hazard to himself, his family, and a threat to our national security. His desperation and primitive lust for power, money and respect makes him disregard inhibitions and courtesy when he opens his mouth to speak. This same man once told us Jonathan was bound to bring nothing but doom to this nation and other such statements, today,.....

I believe when all the dust settles, people like himself wouldn't even get as much as a cold floor by the porch upon which to lay their wasted bodies, let alone given press coverage.

Only time would tell.

In as much as I agree with what you said, the truth cannot be taking away from his writeup there....Mr President need to do something infact urgently concerning fulani invasion of plateau, benue, southern Kaduna, the southern region, I don't like FFK but on that topic he is completely right. We can't be blinded by hate just because of our affiliation to certain political party. I will suggest a regional cooperation in the south to fight against this unjust and barbaric fulani act, OPC and co should rise up and defend there territory if the Nigerian Police can't protect the innocent citizens

These herdsmen!

Reading...

omenka has a dead brain

odi egwu,the chick's has come home to roost