MUST ALL NIGERIANS BE SLAUGHTERED FOR FULANI COW OWNERS?

ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.  

(Looking at Nigeria and the World's Political System From a Godly Perspective).

A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church Kpeyegyi Abuja Nigeria {Vol. 10.NO 405. 16th May, 2021.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32).  PRAY & FAST EVERY WEDNESDAY TO STOP BLOODSHED IN NIGERIA!

MUST ALL NIGERIANS BE SLAUGHTERED FOR FULANI COW OWNERS?

Although it has taken forever for most Nigerian politicians to realize the enormous health hazards/security challenges posed through open  cattle grazing until terrorist hijacked the offensive and archaic system to perpetrate mayhem on the entire populace!

As of this 21st Century, the once peaceful nomadic Fulani herders have turned out to be very unfriendly, angry, vicious, aggressive, and blood thirsty! They have exchanged their herder sticks with AK 47 Rifles and armed to the teeth with machetes, knives including other very dangerous weapons of mass destruction for deadly strikes on innocent herders, their families and several unfortunate dwellers domicile in urban and remote communities!

WHO ARE THE FULANI AND WHY HAVE THEY SUDDENLY BECOME SO AGGRESSIVE?

Although their origin is obscure but linked to Mauritania, due to their similarities in appearance, existence of a Fulfude-speaking minority there and the possibility of a North-Western origin of Fulani migration.
From the 14th Century, this largest pastoralist group in Africa, spread from Senegal into over 20 countries in West Africa, including Guinea, Gambia and Sudan.
The Fulani are traditionally a nomadic, pastoralist, trading people who herd cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural population.

Many scholars believe that the Fulani are of the Judaeco-Syrian origin, but it is generally recognized that the Fulani descended from nomads of both North and Sub-Sahara Africa. They also came from the Middle East and North Africa and settled into Central and West Africa, Senegal, Ghana Nigeria etc. It is said that in Nigeria, the Fulani also known as Fulbe, Puel or Fula brought Islam by force to the pagan/animist Hausa states centuries ago through various wars or JIHADS in order to install Islamic leadership.

ALARM WAS RAISED OF A NOMAD FULANI MILITANT BASE IN BENUE STATE!

Eight years ago in 2014 during ex-president Ebele Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], Administration, We published a timely warning in respect of an impending invasion of Nigeria by armed Fulani who sinisterly clustered in North Central Benue State where they executed brigandage and also planned to unleash mayhem to other States of the country! Below are excerpts of our Edition 30 of 9th March, 2014:

“THE NOMAD FULANI ‘MILITANT BASE’ IN BENUE IS A TIME BOMB!
In spite of the move by President, Goodluck Jonathan, to assist Benue State to dislodge armed nomadic Fulani herdsmen who were threatening their peaceful co-existence, they, (nomads), succeeded in attacking and killing several people, mostly Benue farmers, last week!
The nomads’ strategy is to create an assault launch- base in this Central State, from where they could attack in any direction round-about, to Plateau, Nassarawa, Kaduna or even, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. These Fulani are extremely dangerous because, they are always fully armed, itinerant and can easily disappear into bushes and forests without ever being apprehended after any attack, and there is virtually no Nigerian farmer who has not had a ‘deadly’ brush with these nomads in any part of the federation!

The Fulani herdsmen/ farmers clashes over grazing rights in Nigeria, has always been a bone of contention between the two parties from time immemorial. In some cases, amicable solutions were proffered, while others, resulted in bloody clashes with fatalities!

A renewed and sustained assault of these herdsmen with Tiv farmers in Adeke Village, a suburb of Makurdi, erupted late 2013 and spread with impunity to Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Bornu, Imo, Enugu, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, in January 2014! In all, hundreds of human lives, including some soldiers and a Senator’s nephew in Oyo State, were lost; over 200 houses were razed!

We are aware that all security agencies are at ‘red alert’, but the most important and very urgent action is a quick resolution of this grave conflict which poses a time bomb, just waiting to detonate! Though, the right to free grazing routes across Nigeria seems to be the crux of the incessant conflict, it is believed that, some fifth columnists, are supplying arms and ammunition to the herdsmen in order to make the Nigerian State ungovernable for their selfish political gains through these itinerant ‘foot combatants’!

We must not forget that the Fulani nomads are mere custodians and serfs to the millionaire owners of these cattle, goats and sheep.
Second, we must also be wary that if cautious steps are not urgently employed, insurgents may infiltrate their ranks to penetrate other parts of the nation! There are also Fulani cattle rustlers, mercenaries who would work for the highest bidder! With the right incentive, they had invaded well-stocked cattle ranches, maimed and killed watchmen and guards, carted away stolen cattle to their principals for disposal in the black market!

We are aware that there is a Bill in respect of the need for approved grazing routes before the House of Representatives which deserves urgent attention to avoid further violent clashes between these two groups which play vital roles in our agrarian and livestock economy.

A Nigerian gun-runner was last week arrested in Gombe, en-route Plateau, to deliver the third consignment of a saloon car-load of AK 47 Rifles and ammunitions, to an undisclosed destination in the State........”
In our own way of contribution to nation building, we published another Newsletter, Edition 143, dated 8th May, 2016, titled: “RAMPAGING FULANI HERDSMEN CANNOT TURN BACK THE HANDS OF THE CLOCK”, in which We advocated the urgent need to address the insecurity posed by the wild pastoralists and harness our diversity to serve as bond for strength!

NOW THAT 17 SOUTHERN GOVERNORS HAVE FULLY IDENTIFIED THE DANGERS OF OPEN GRAZING AND DECIDED ON A CONCERTED BAN!

In a bi-partisan approach which threw overboard party politics and affiliation, 17 Southern Governors made up of All Progressives Congress [APC], at a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on Tuesday 11th May, 2021, reviewed the current insecurity situation of the nation including agitations for restructuring, inter-state collaboration/partnerships as well as the continuous incidence of Covid-19 pandemic.

In an 11-point communiqué, the forum, among other things affirmed commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity, oneness, and peaceful co-existence with a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity.
The forum observed the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the Southern part of the country which has presented a severe challenge such that citizens were unable to live normal lives, nor pursue various productive activities which led to threat to food supply and general security.
Consequently the forum resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria….including cattle movement by foot and recommended that Federal Government should support WILLING States to develop alternative and modern livestock management systems!

They also agreed that the [progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of State Police, review of Revenue Allocation Formula in favor of the sun-national governments  and creation of other institutions which legitimately advance collective advancement to and practice of true federalism.

The forum recommended Federal Government should convoke a National Dialogue as a matter of urgency to and urge the President should address Nigerians on the various challenges of insecurity and restore the confidence of the citizens.

PROHIBITION OF OPEN GRAZING BY INDIVIDUAL  STATES HAD NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST AS THEY WERE ALWAYS OPPOSED BY MACBAN!

In the Southern States of Ekiti / Ondo and the North Central State of Benue where anti-grazing law was enacted between 2015-2021, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria [MACBAN], resisted frustrated, truncated official efforts and continued to intimidate the governments with subtle support from their Fulani helmsmen at the federal level!

It is now a different ball game because all APC and PDP Governors are solidly united to get the cows  out of the SOUTH if they cannot RANCH OR RUGA  them as done in other climes!

ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS THROUGH POPULAR REFERENDUM!

The Federal Government MUST be forced to meet all demands not only by governors alone but by all well-meaning Nigerians through the portal of a POPULAR REFERENDUM which Governor El Rufai Committee on RESTRUCTURING recommended in its Report which had been submitted to General Buhari since 2018 because these present crop of legislators who are on their way out would definitely foot drag although they should because a large number of them in the House of Representatives are very much disposed to the initiative! The President and citizens can also initiate referendums!

QUESTION: What is Referendum?  A general vote by the electorate on a single political decision which has been referred to them for a direct decision.
How does it work? Voting in a Referendum is similar to casting a vote in the Federal election – the key difference is what voters are required to write on their Referendum ballot paper. In a Referendum, voters are required to write either “Yes” or “No” in the box opposite each question on the ballot paper.

Why is Referendum important? It allows citizens, through the petition process to refer acts of the Legislature to the ballot before they become law. The Referendum also permits the Legislature itself to refer proposed legislation to the electorate for approval or rejection.
What makes a Referendum successful? An overwhelming support by all stakeholders as a united front in ensuring succour for the masses and for popular opinion to hold sway! 
Is a Referendum legally binding? Referendums are not legally binding, so legally the Government can ignore their results: for example, even if the result of a pre-legislative referendum were a majority of “No” for a proposed law, Parliament could pass it anyway, because Parliament in some democracies is sovereign.

BUT in Nigeria, SOVEREIGNTY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE , and as such Referendum would DEFINITELY SAIL THROUGH WHEN PUT TO TEST! Nigerians are disgusted with the unresolved issues of restructuring and insecurity! ‘‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’’ (Gal 6:7)

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com,

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations. 

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.