It cannot be denied that there exists a serious threat all across Nigeria from the lawless and criminal acts of the nomadic herdsman. Almost every state (North to South and East to West) and almost every tribe (Hausa, igbo, Berom, Yoruba and the city dwelling Fulani) have been victims of these lawless nomadic herdsmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen.
Whilst it is true that every Nigerian has an intrinsic right of free movement within Nigeria, no person has the right to trespass upon the property of another or to destroy the property or assets or goods of another person. Additionally, the right of free movement as guaranteed by the constitution does not extend to animals or cows. Cattle has no intrinsic right to walk on government roads or traverse farms or property of any individual person in Nigeria.
Each state has the power to pass legislation banning the movement of cattle through their respective states. Those states can make it a criminal offence and pronounce long custodial sentences for any breach of those laws. These laws will allow the police to stop the movement of cattle before they get to destroy farm produce of Nigeria’s farmers (which account for 30% of Nigeria’s GDP). At the moment, the police can only act once the cows have trespassed upon private lands and destroyed farm produce.
If the state houses of assembly in most of the North Central and South do their job and pass such wide ranging criminal law changes, the menace of the unruly nomadic herdsman will be curtailed.
Secession Threat
That said, the secession threat by Afenifere is entirely consistent with the lack of common sense that has (for some time now) pervaded that organization. I find it very hard to fathom how a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria (presumably along the lines agreed by them in the ill fated Jonathan conference) helps restrict or stop the menace of the Fulani herdsman. If anything, The Afenifere agreed national conference document allowed for anyone to be an indigene of an area if they have lived in that place for a significant time of about 10 or more years. Presumably, these herdsmen would probably be considered SW indigenes if the provisions of the Jonathan Conference were ever implemented.
The Odumakin led Afenifere have never been the sane voice of the Yoruba. It after all supported the most virulent anti Yoruba head of state in the person of former President Jonathan. Gen Abacha had more of the Yoruba interest at heart than that former President ever had. It now scandalously wants to put the Yoruba nation into conflict with its political partners over an issue that can be properly handled at the state level.
More disturbing is the inclusion of the intellectually inconsistent Fani Kayode. At one point, he was a vocal defender of the Yoruba against the perceived lack of manners of a certain tribe hosted within the Yoruba nation. Once given a campaign job by the Yoruba nations arch enemy, this shifty character turned defender in chief of that same tribe! Now out of power and devoid of free money, he has started throwing offensive language to the North over the acts of a few nomadic herdsmen causing havoc within and across state lines.
This lack of thought must stop. It is instructive that the saner Afenifere Renewal Group had nothing to do with the perversely daft pronouncement of SDP /PDP supporting Afenifere. It has now support or credibility within the Yoruba nation and does not represent the Yoruba people.
This is a local problem that should be tackled through legislative actions by state houses of assembly as suggested above. The onus will then be on the IG of police to enforce the laws. Any failure (by the IG or the respective commissioners of police within the relevant states) to enforce the newly passed laws will then give rise to a more serious conversation. That time has not come yet.
What should not be countenanced is the establishment of grazing reserves. Nigeria is a capitalist society. Cow rearing is a business. The herdsmen should endeavour to get loans to purchase grazing reserves it needs. This is a cost of business just like any other business has to plan for.
The state houses of assembly in the North Central and South (and probably in the far North if they consider it appropriate), should as a matter of urgency pass laws prohibiting the transportation of cows on foot between states. In the event that cows are to be sold across state lines then the herdsmen will have to hire trucks and transport the cows by truck to their ultimate destination market. What the Yoruba will not countenance is talk of secession due to the acts of a few lawless herdsmen (which have become a nuisance throughout Nigeria for at least the last 15 years).
Dele.Awogbeoba@gmail.com