-I've seen the incredible dangers of how this notion about the Fulani has blinded people into acting in insidious ethnic manners.

-I spent most of my life fighting against racism internationally, as such it is unacceptable to now come to my own country and be part of the lynch mob against one tribe or ethnicity. There are no bystanders or observers in this situation; nobody can watch this pass. Nobody who has any right mind should keep quiet.

It is critical to speak out right now. I hope that I speak very clearly, not necessarily to win over anybody or gain support for my position. In fact, I’m very clear about it that this position is isolated and a very minority view in the debate that is playing genocide and going around the country.

It is incumbent upon anybody who is habitual in reflection that the lessons to learn are clear. This is what happened in Rwanda. When you scapegoat a group and give them a name that dehumanises them, that reduces them in comparison to other ethnic groups; and by not granting them any individuality, it is the most degrading thing, not just for them, but for the entire country.

There is this habit that has evolved since President Buhari was elected, of turning the Fulani into herdsmen and herdsmen into criminals. Now, we no longer have to describe or explain what we mean when we say “herdsmen crime” or “Fulani herdsmen’.

Most times, the sophisticated among us (and the greater the sophistication, the better) don’t even have to describe what they mean when they say “herdsmen”. The unfortunate thing is that this has now been adopted in the news reports we hear, such that Garba Shehu, the representative of President Buhari was trying to justify the response of the government by saying: Yes, herdsmen crimes were being punished.

That word, that phrase, whatever it is, is the most dangerous and most despicable thing being offered to the Nigerian public. This process of institutionalising and scapegoating Fulani people or Northerners in this way will come back to haunt all of us.

The process of institutionalising these kinds of rhetoric, this thing that has become commonplace in Nigerian culture, is not a new thing, but it has become more insidious and more dangerous in these days, in a time when everybody now has a platform. Through social media, people project their views, and turn their prejudices into stereotypes of others and embody these in choices that have to be made in public policy. I am in my fifties; I have grown up to the tropes held in the South-West about the Fulani.

First, the notion of the ‘Jihad’, that the Fulani came into the country and swept from the North and tried to sweep everybody into the Atlantic Ocean to take over their land. It is a patently ridiculous take on history. It is a misconception of the facts and a misrepresentation of what happened. It wasn’t the Fulani who broke the Oyo Empire; it was a fight between the Alaafin and Afonja and that was after years of institutional conflicts within Oyo; so let’s put to bed this ridiculous notion.

The second trope is that the Sadauna of Sokoto was a tribalist and in the hegemonic fight for control of Nigeria, the Fulani had the upper hand because the British sided with them. It is an arguable point but to what avail? Which one of those people, including the much celebrated Chief Obafemi Awolowo or Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, was not a tribalist? The reality is that these people were not born into Nigeria. They were born into their different ethnic groups. Why does it justify to victimise the Fulani as if they are the only ones that commit crimes in Nigeria? Or that because some of them commit crimes, it means that the rest of them must be defined by the choices of the worst amongst them? Why don’t we go about saying: ‘bankers crime’ or ‘farmers crime’, and not just ‘killer herdsmen’? It is a patently vicious thing that is being done.

My experience of this anti-Fulani hatred is so full and varied, but I had never seen it that bad until then. Presently, it has gotten to another level, and it is heading towards genocide. All right-minded persons need to call this out.

Another trope is the notion that the Fulani have cornered federal power in Nigeria in a way that has denied other people access. The final story is that Buhari is a Fulani, and therefore a herdman, and part of the realisation of a hegemonic control over the rest of us. These things are bigoted lies and half truths.

In my own life, I have lived in different parts of Nigeria. I remember the first time that I would engage this notion of Fulani hegemony and it was to my advantage, shall I say. I had done my JAMB examination and was placed in the University of Jos as one of the top scholars, but somehow in my JAMB form I had mistakenly coded the state of origin, yet JAMB decided that I had done it wilfully and wrongfully. It claimed I was trying to take advantage of an educationally disadvantaged state and as a result, the body blocked my matriculation into the University of Jos.

The adults in my life rallied round. I had scored higher the year before and was arguably in the top 5 per cent, but unfortunately without all my O’Levels credits. Now this. My mother jumped on a plane with me to University of Jos and tried to convince them, but to no avail. My memory then was the outrage in my second choice, the University of Ife; that I had scored high enough for both Universities but that the ‘Northerners’ were keeping me out of the University of Jos on a technicality. So, you could say that I was a beneficiary of the anti-Fulani notion early in life. The reality is that as a Nigerian, I understood very clearly that certain states needed to be given preferential treatment, through a quota system of sorts, to ensure that the opportunities for education are widely spread across the country, and people are able to have access to the wealth that comes from education.

I have seen the incredible dangers of how this notion, that somehow the North and especially the Fulani have some kind of advantage, has blinded people who should know better into acting in insidious ethnic manners. I will highlight some of these points from my life. In my NYSC camp in Efon Alaye, then in Ondo State, we had a debate at a ‘civic night’ on the pros and cons of national leaders not being nationalists. One side had argued that Awolowo was no nationalist. That point sticks as a mob had then wanted to attack the Northern youth corp members who were of this perspective. It was a small group of us that stood between the mob baying for  blood and these young men. It was quite a very shocking thing to have been exposed to in my early twenties. I was 21 at the time, and I marvelled at how people I had lived with daily saw their collaegues as fair game for attack because they held a view that was different from theirs.

Decades after, I ended up working in the DAWN Commission in Ibadan, as pioneering Head of Planning and Strategy for the organisation. I remember that once we had an open or a planning day in Davies Hotel Ibadan, where I got into a serious contestation with some of my colleagues over this issue. It is disturbingly clear that the assumption is that the Fulani are not worthy of being Nigerians, that they are out to take everything from everybody and that they are a dangerous element in this political rivalry that has been created around ethnicity. I have never understood the virtue of the vilification of the other and their reduction into non-humans, in order to legitimise some sense of competition or rivalry with them.

What about the Fulani child? A child that by accident of birth was born into an ethnic group. What makes that child not worthy of the life that you want for your own children? What make it acceptable to stigmatise that child, not because of his or her conduct or character, but because of his or her accident of birth. Is this what we should apply to each other in 21st century in Nigeria?

Later on, when I was working in the Niger Delta, I experienced many people of great influence talk about the Fulani and how they own all the oil wealth and have been exploiting their people. My experience of this anti-Fulani hatred is so full and varied, but I had never seen it that bad until then. Presently, it has gotten to another level, and it is heading towards genocide. All right-minded persons need to call this out.

What about the Fulani child? A child that by accident of birth was born into an ethnic group. What makes that child not worthy of the life that you want for your own children? What make it acceptable to stigmatise that child, not because of his or her conduct or character, but because of his or her accident of birth. Is this what we should apply to each other in 21st century in Nigeria? This is totally unacceptable; with newspapers brandishing this, everyday and bombarding us with slurs such as: “herdsmen”, “Fulani people committing crimes”, “Igbo people commit crimes”, “Yoruba people commit crimes”. Individuals are no longer defined by their deeds. This is certainly not civilised behaviour or education. Now, the worst of us are coming out, drumming beats of war, looking for people to kill, and seeking to kill them at the slightest excuse.

The reality is that the minute President Buhari was elected, I remember a very senior All Progressives Congress (APC) member saying that the Fulani would be emboldened by his election. This is not a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-APC thing; it is a Nigerian problem. It is a problem that we hold as a badge of honour that the Fulani should become the scapegoat, the lowest of our people, so that we will find it legitimate to discriminate against them.

I spent most of my life fighting against racism internationally, as such it is unacceptable to now come to my own country and be part of the lynch mob against one tribe or ethnicity.

There are no bystanders or observers in this situation; nobody can watch this pass. Nobody who has any right mind should keep quiet. Nobody who wants a future for his or her children should watch the future of other people’s children being taken away from them. It is despicable, it is horrible, it has to be called out.

We have just watched what happened in the United States with the murder of George Floyd. A country founded on white supremacy. We are going towards that in Nigeria, and when it happens here, it will not be because we were not warned, because we chose to stay neutral or even supported the popular victimisation and scapegoating that is ongoing. It is critical that we take a stand.

The Fulani have their own diversity, as every ethnic group does. Anybody that says otherwise is a bigot. We need to stop using loaded terms like ‘herdsmen’ or lazily and hatefully lumping the Fulani together. Let us have a Police Service that we trust will catch criminals, a court system that will prosecute and punish the guilty, as our posterity deserves no less.

Adewale Ajadi, a lawyer, creative consultant and leadership expert, is author of Omoluwabi 2.0: A Code of Transformation in 21st Century Nigeria.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/443878-scapegoating-the-fulani-dehumanises-us-all-by-adewale-ajadi.html
Lalasticlala OAM4J

It is incumbent upon anybody who is habitual in reflection that the lessons to learn are clear. This is what happened in Rwanda. When you scapegoat a group and give them a name that dehumanises them, that reduces them in comparison to other ethnic groups; and by not granting them any individuality, it is the most degrading thing, not just for them, but for the entire country.

What da hell is this one saying.. Between Dehumanizing and killingnizing, which one is worst?

So other Nigerians should be pampering the killer herdsmen just cos we don't want to dehumanize them?

My friend, you wrote gibberish up there

This process of institutionalising and scapegoating Fulani people or Northerners in this way will come back to haunt all of us.

So the dehumanization of others ethnic groups by these same Fulanis is called what? This is the nauseating hypocrisy about us humans. Where was this fella when these same fulani killed people in Benue, Jos, Nassarawa and justified it on the natives hindering them to graze their cattle on their means of livelihood?

Is this fool aware of the atrocities of these same Fulanis across the southern part of this nation? Is this fella aware that the global terrorism index(GTI) have long declared this same Fulanis(who the president rightly decleared are foreigners) from Futa Jallon Plateau as the 4th most deadly terrorist group yet they were being granted point of entry visa by their brother president?

Well nothing new because "all of the above bring me to the point that baffled me most and which summarises all of the rhetorical acrobatics he did at the Fasoranti’s house: the needless defence of the Fulani by Tinubu.

By now, everyone would have noticed that the most strident defence of the Fulani over the herdsmen issue has come from southerners, particularly the Yoruba. On the question of whether the Fulani deserve the stereotype of cold-blooded killers or not, the Yoruba people have wept louder than the bereaved.
https://punchng.com/tinubu-defender-of-the-fulani/

"It would be better for those that were oppose to cattle ranching to provide lands than to die in the herdsmen’s attacks.What would the land be used for if those who own it are dead at the end of the day?...." 
http://saharareporters.com/2020/04/23/deacon-femi-adesina-shameless-sanballat-bayo-oluwasanmi

“MURIC appeals to the state government to use amotekun boys in rescuing the Ife people from the hands of heartless businessmen who are bent on making life miserable for the poor masses in Ile-Ife. This should be the focus of amotekun, not imaginary bandits and herdsmen.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2020/06/26/leave-fulani-alone-stop-endangering-lives-of-yorubas-islamic-group-warns-amotekun/

This is a disgrace to yoruba nation, this bastard no fit talk about the killing of his people by these oloriburuku fulani herdsmen, because of cheap popularity he has turned himself to fulani slave and ass licker.
Fvck you bastard

Monogamy:
What da hell is this one saying.. Between Dehumanizing and killingnizing, which one is worst? So other Nigerians should be pampering the killer herdsmen just cos we don't want to dehumanize them? My friend, you wrote gibberish up there

Absolute rubbish! So others should look on and be annihilated without fighting back.I am not surprised perhaps he is yet to see that all the northern governors alongside the Buhari-led central govt are united in pampering and rewarding their terrorists brothers with cash, amnesty.

Not when fulani nothern govs elrufai, matawale, etc. Even gumi re paying them.


Just yesterday they gave them 800m naira

If any fulani is sane he should show the world that there re criminals among them, I stead we heard that one eyed fool matwalle saying something like, not all bandits re criminals

Odua1stson:
This is a disgrace to yoruba nation, this bastard no fit talk about the killing of his people by these oloriburuku fulani herdsmen, because of cheap popularity he has turned himself to fulani slave and ass licker.Fvck you bastard

Just imagine the mumu.He did not even chronicled the atrocities of this murderous entity as the Alaafin of Oyo did in his letter to the president reminding him of what will happen if the menace of his kiths and kin remain unchecked.Nawa for some slaves.

God bless this Omoluabi and other people who isn't blinded by Fulani hate

I understand the need to stay rational always as not to loose our humanity.

However, i believe the most terrible thing pne can do is to stay rational in the face of irrational beings. Those irrational souls will see it as weakness.

The Fulani herdsmen are irrational beings, they have proven it on several occasions with inciting statements issued by their leadership.

So it's only right to show them that they're not the ones that can be irrational.

South and hypocrisy are like 5&6. These same foolanis are still having a field day killing children, raping and killing defenseless women, slaughtering breadwinners at will in their own farms, burning plantations; yet all you see is the people fighting back! I do not support killing children (if it's true their children were killed in the East as we read here), however, I believe no Southerner will set out to go and kill their children, it was an unfortunate mistake and we hope it never happens again. But let's please stop the hypocrisy, especially my Yoruba folks, let the world see the Northerners for the killers they really are, whatever happens in the South is always to fight back since the government has refused to listen to the victims

Racoon:
Just imagine the mumu.He did not even chronicled the atrocities of this murderous entity as the Alaafin of Oyo did in his letter to the president reminding him what will happen if the menace of his kiths and kin remained unchecked.Nawa for some slaves.

he is a slave

That Mohammad was able to islamize Arabia was possible with the help of insiders. So be on alert, the person that may sell you or your land to these in humane beings might be your brother.

.

This guy was paid to write trash. Fulani herdsmen has been going about committing genocide from one town to another and this sophisticated writer is only bother they being called out by their names.

For every action, there is always and equal and opposite reaction...

Buhari's actions are causing the reactions.. it's getting worse by the day.

This fulani banditry thing has gone deeper than we can imagine.
I employed a fulani guard in November and he turned out to be a bandit. He was one of those chased from the New bussa forests.
I was just thankful he was spotted before he could turn against me.
As for the writer, he is a poor student of history and as shown a very poor gasp of the issues. I would suggest the carries out a full investigation of the Fulani. He can read the words of Bala Mohd and Aliyu Tilde to have a clearer view. Then he can come and do the job he was paid to do in a better light.

Unfortunately, there are so many foolish bastards in Southwest.

Imagine this foolish man defending a thief who came to steal and kill.
.
.
.
Concerned Southwesterners must be ready to fight all of those inside stabbers first before the Fulanis. They are making SW look foolish.

We have no Legacy in Southwest.

Taqiya


They can keep paying these igbo, Yoruba hungry mofos to launder their image.


We are waiting for the so called Good fulanis to start fishing the supposed bad eggs amongst them by themselves

Hehehe
Who do us this strong thing!
The Negro is really a good slave, unfortunately

When southerners try to blame their crime rate on peace loving herdsmen

Many of those calling fulani herdsman all type of names have never left their small hut to anywhere in Nigeria, they spend all their days online posting and supporting fakenews while putting fear on people who are adventurous.

The southern people knowingly released hardened criminals from prison during the endsar protest and now, they blame fulani for their increase in crime waves.

Adewale Ajadi same author of Omoluabi 2.0?
I read that book back in the days
Guess who wrote the foreword of that book!!! John Kayode Fayemi(2023 APC Presidential primary aspirant) Left to you if you can't connect the dots between Ajadi statement and where is loyalty lies!!!
He even had the guts to say Azikwe and Awolowo were serial tribalist!!! but Ahmadu bello, Tafawa balewa and other Northern heroes were committed mainly to National unity shey?

Fulani herdsmen are a bunch of blood thirsty marabouts who have nothing to offer other than killing and maiming innocent citizens all in the name of cattle rustling. I pity their supporters who have sold their loyalty for political gains. Oneday, It would come back to haunt them.