RUGA: THE END GAME
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| A FULANI HERDSMAN |
When southern and northern politicians talk about
nationalism, patriotism or the Nigerian state, it is very important to
understand that the two groups are not speaking of the same thing. Northern
politicians, especially what is generally referred to as "core north"
or Hausa/Fulani usually think Nigeria begins where their interest is taken care
of and ends when such interests are threatened. They also understand the
politics of numbers and methods of dominance far more than the rest of the
country. The north, with active British help, consolidated its power structure
shortly after the country's independence. This has made the "north"
the dominant socio-political power in Nigeria. The RUGA issue, which should
have been a strictly private economic affair under state and federal regulation,
has become a potential reason for social upheaval - because the economic
survival of a predominantly northern (Fulani) anachronistic tradition is being
imposed on the rest of the country.
All over the country, the activities of so-called
Fulani Herdsmen have resulted in killings, kidnappings, farmland destruction,
rapes, wholesale genocide, and territorial annexation. The suggested
establishment of whole towns (including schools and hospitals) to accommodate
what is essentially a personal business in every state of Nigeria is
suspicious. The president appears to be a major advocate, or at least a willing
enhancer of this unscientific imposition. Traditionally, leaders from other parts of Nigeria
have proven totally incapable of any meaningful opposition to northern designs
on Nigeria because they lack a cohesive and focused raison d'être. Southern
politicians are for the most part, crippled by internecine mischief and a
propensity for self-defeating compromise with northern powers when the price is
right.
When the idea of establishing Fulani settlements
across the country with financial help from government was proposed, many were
against it. This was because of Fulani Herdsmen antecedents in the country -
their violence, hegemonistic tendencies and brutal suppression of indigenous
populations that stand in their way. High level opposition to the idea of Fulani settlements
(RUGA) came from a few southern politicians and pundits who did not quite trust
the government's motives. The question is why government was either silent or
flippant about the murderous actions committed by herdsmen over the years and
then suddenly proposes the establishment of Fulani "towns" within
each state of Nigeria to ensure "peace". The RUGA initiative
appears to be a well-orchestrated ultimate goal of the present government. They
obviously condoned Fulani attacks on innocent lives across the country to
ultimately justify RUGA establishment in order to help "solve" the
security situation. The RUGA initiative was finally "suspended" due
to an unprecedented outcry from Nigerians who saw the dangerous traps
non-Fulani citizens were being led into.
It has however become customary that when the
north fails to get its wish, it tends to try making life difficult for other
citizens of the country. In the RUGA case, leaders of the Fulani arrogantly
gave a sitting government 30 days to rescind the suspension of RUGA or face
"dire consequences". Now, if a group other than Fulani had uttered
those threats, the army would be mobilised to crush it. If it was IPOB (a
pressure group from the southeast) for example, the military will come up with
ideas to intimidate, imprison or kill people that are peacefully protesting.
The general outcry against the establishment of RUGA projects in the southern
states of the federation discouraged any compromise by some of their fence-sitting governors.
Given the myriad problems facing Nigeria, the
apparent importance accorded Fulani settlement is unsettling. Ignoring or being
flippant about the rights of other Nigerians to life and livelihood while
promoting traditional cattle holding is unacceptable. The citizenship rights of
Nigerians cannot be equated to cattle rights, no matter who is raising them.
From the utterance of ultra conservative northern leaders, Fulanis apparently
think they have exclusive rights to land across West Africa. Nigeria is
particularly prized because of the Hausa/Fulani socio-political dominance that
guarantees control of the country's resources. Professor Wole Soyinka recently
said that the present government of Muhammadu Buhari, does not have what it
takes to govern Nigeria. While this is a correct assessment, the goal of the
northern oligarchy has never been to run a country but to run after selfish
interests at the expense of the country. Except in very few cases, the north
has always had its way while the rest of the country have their say or play
dumb for crumbs.
jrotimibgood@gmail.com
