Of Gov. Yahaya Bello and the Herdsmen

      

The Governor of Kogi state is one character that I can never get round to understanding. He is an avowed defender of anything Fulani. It would not be out of place to say he is more Fulani than the Fulanis. Maybe this avowed likeness for the Fulanis can be situated in the fact that he was a recipient of the political fallout of the death of the erstwhile Governorship candidate Abubakar Audu. The hand of the Presidency was not far from his emergence as the authentic governor of Kogi state. He therefore owe President Buhari his unalloyed loyalty to repay the latter's largesse and to secure a second term according to some political observers.

  

 Be that as it may, the governor's invitation to the Fulani for a Fulani herdsmen colony could altruistic. However, the said colony should be situated in Ebira land (I have nothing against Ebira people) . Since Gov. Yahaya Bello loves the herdsmen and believes that they are harmless then it necessarily follows that he should prepare space for them in the Kogi Central Senatorial District. This call is as a result of reports and pictures circulating to the effect that the herdsmen have already landed in the Bunu area of Kabba/Bunu local government area of the state. It is fervently hoped that the rumour is unfounded else it would show the Governor as totally playing to the presidency gallery. If you love the herdsmen show it practically by welcoming them in your geographical domain. It will show you are up to the task when down the line the Fulani starts to assert their authority on the land. As a student of history we know what happens when our Fulani friends are invited to the table. As per the Governor's speech of turning Kogi into Holland good luck with that. The Fulani could jolly well stay in their geographical space and turn the core North into a Dutch miracle. With the unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty up north, their  people no doubt need them more than Kogi state. 

Of Gov. Yahaya Bello and the Herdsmen

      

The Governor of Kogi state is one character that I can never get round to understanding. He is an avowed defender of anything Fulani. It would not be out of place to say he is more Fulani than the Fulanis. Maybe this avowed likeness for the Fulanis can be situated in the fact that he was a recipient of the political fallout of the death of the erstwhile Governorship candidate Abubakar Audu. The hand of the Presidency was not far from his emergence as the authentic governor of Kogi state. He therefore owe President Buhari his unalloyed loyalty to repay the latter's largesse and to secure a second term according to some political observers.

  

 Be that as it may, the governor's invitation to the Fulani for a Fulani herdsmen colony could altruistic. However, the said colony should be situated in Ebira land (I have nothing against Ebira people) . Since Gov. Yahaya Bello loves the herdsmen and believes that they are harmless then it necessarily follows that he should prepare space for them in the Kogi Central Senatorial District. This call is as a result of reports and pictures circulating to the effect that the herdsmen have already landed in the Bunu area of Kabba/Bunu local government area of the state. It is fervently hoped that the rumour is unfounded else it would show the Governor as totally playing to the presidency gallery. If you love the herdsmen show it practically by welcoming them in your geographical domain. It will show you are up to the task when down the line the Fulani starts to assert their authority on the land. As a student of history we know what happens when our Fulani friends are invited to the table. As per the Governor's speech of turning Kogi into Holland good luck with that. The Fulani could jolly well stay in their geographical space and turn the core North into a Dutch miracle. With the unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty up north, their  people no doubt need them more than Kogi state. 

A Minister's Careless Talk

     

          The Federal  government  better make up its mind over who are behind the incessant attack of the herdsmen. One day the SSS says the attacks are the handiwork of the IS in West Africa another day the military will say the attacks are as a result of the anti grazing laws enacted by different states in the Federation. What this means is that the agencies saddled with the security of the country are not on the same page. It is either they are incompetent or they lack the will to call a spade a spade. If the latter is the case then the security agencies are part of the problem.   The other aspect of this is that the statement by the Defense Minister Mansur Dan-Ali  http://punchng.com/defence-minister-blames-herdsmen-killings-on-anti-grazing-law-route-blockage/is unfortunate not least because it came out of his mouth but because he seemed to tacitly support the actions of the murderous herdsmen but implying that because of the fact that you don't like a law that gives you the right to react violently and criminally to the said law. This, unfortunately, is an invitation to anarchy because it engenders a resort to self help by citizens which has the deleterious effect of upending law and order in the polity. If one is not comfortable with a particular law there is a laid down procedure for challenging that law. The Minister should therefore be seen by all peace loving people as a contributor to the conflagration sweeping across the country as a result of the criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen.

Karma is a bitch

 

   Karma is a bitch. APC and their supporters gave Jonathan hell for daring to increase fuel price but with power they seem to be as powerless as they can be. A lot of deadlines to NNPC has come and passed but scarcity remains. The President is incidentally the Petroleum Minister but could not manage the situation. The situation will unfortunately persist as we practice a mutant form of Federalism unlike any in this world. A Federalism where the federating units go to the center every month, cap in hand, to collect handouts from a powerful center (the big brother). It aches my heart to see my nation doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to have a different result. It is very unfortunate that our leaders can not exhibit the traits of leaders. Leaders must take hard decisions for their nations to move forward.
 

A situation where the President can not address the nation on the cause and government efforts to stem the scarcity of this all important resource, calls to question the leadership qualities of the President.A case where France, for example, is hit by a terrorist and our President would be the first to send condolences but the same man would not address his own people in a time of need if dubious and suspect. The president's handlers are not helping matters. They believe laundering the President image by way of a documentary is what Nigerians are interested in at this time. The little fuel in my generator is what I poured in my car to take me to the office. Without NEPA  and bereft of fuel in my gen how would Nigerians watch a documentary? Very ill-timed and needless at this time. Unless it was a grand plan to deflect public attention from the crippling fuel scarcity.  The regime has proven itself adept at the dark art of misdirection time and time again.
 

   The nation must be restructured and government involvement in the economy must be at a minimum. Unnecessary subsidies must be removed. The price of fuel can't be the same across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Let each state buy and sell according to the dictates of economics. Our 5 or so refineries must be made to work. Iran, under years of economic sanctions, was still able to refine its oil. It's a pity that we can not refine our Petroleum at peace time. We cannot even distribute at peace time. What are we turning to as a nation? A nation of nampy pambies? Always looking for the quick fix. When the price differential of tomatoes up north and down south is so wide, condemning costs etc, why should anyone expect the cost of petrol to be the same up north and down south? Government picking the price equalization bill can not work forever. We all thought the era of subsidy was over until we learnt government IS still subsidizing by about #26. This blind leading the blind must stop. Nigeria is very blessed and we deserve the best. Alas, with Buhari it is not yet Uhuru. 

A season of Anomie

   This is truly a season of Anomie in our dear nation. A different day a different slapstick comedy of the absurd takes place. These comedies would have been laughable if not for the harsh economic atmosphere. If one laughs too much on an empty one may cross over to the other side. We have the DSS refusing to allow the EFCC operatives effect the arrest of a former D.G of DSS Ita Ekpeyong at his Asokoro residence. These are two agencies of government working at cross purposes. This more so when the EFCC had a search and arrest warrant to carry out their brief.
  Another drama acted itself out at the State House when the family picture of the apprehended notorious kidnapper, Evans, was found hung on the wall of the State House building.
Earlier, the IG of Police had withdrawn the security details protecting the Anambra State governor Sir Willie Obiano. The I.G predicated his move on the assertion that the Governor could use the police security to his advantage during the recently held gubernatorial poll in the state. These are the same security details reporting to the I. G. They are policemen for God's sake. Mr I. G you don't trust your guys anymore? Will same be done to the President during the presidential election? Thank God the I. G was prevailed upon to rescind the withdrawal order.
We had the Goat, Tea, and the wheelbarrow empowerment in Kastina Kano, and Benue states respectively. The respective governors bought these items with state funds to distribute to their youth ostensibly to provide employment.
We had the I. G saying he had a right to romance any lady police in the force. He however claimed he did not say that.
In Rivers the dramatis personae involved the Governor and the Transport minister Amaechi, himself the predecessor of the incumbent governor. Apparently, Amaechi was coming into town with his convoy when "fortuitously" the Governor happened to be passing on the same road. Since the road is apparently small for the duo, their was a clash of the security details. Tempers flared and gun totting security details were on edge all because of the Personal egos of the two personalities. Two VIPs causing commotion on the streets of Port Harcourt. Shame! With issues like this why are we surprised Nigeria is not progressing?