NEHAP FCSF
NEW END HUNGER AND POVERTY
FULANI CATTLE SOLUTIONS FORUM
Statement by Lanre Rotimi, ISPE /
EAG,
Ondo State NUJ Democracy Day
Lecture 30, May 2016
“Herdsmen Attacks Farmers: PMB Implement Nigeria Rescue Mission that
Work”
In his 2016 Democracy Day Speech,
President Buhari highlighted progress fighting Boko Hara, and strongly warned
Niger Delta Avengers but maintained deafening silence on Fulani Herdsmen
menace. If Mr. President allow himself to be branded Fulani President rather
than Nigeria President, this can only worsen the complexity of the National
Challenges and National Crises the Buhari Administration is grappling with. Why
is President Buhari openly defending atrocities and criminality of his
tribesmen and making his Governance burden heavier?
My name is Lanre Rotimi and I am honored
to make this Statement on the topic of “Herdsmen Attacks Farmers: PMB Implement
Nigeria Rescue Mission that Work” on behalf of the International Society for
Poverty Elimination / Economic Alliance Group, New End Hunger and Poverty,
NEHAP Initiative, NEHAP Agriculture Revolution and NEHAP Cooperative
Multipurpose Societies for Agriculture – Crops, Livestock, Fisheries and
Forestry Agriculture Business Workers, Owners, Investors, Suppliers and
Advisers.
We congratulate the Chairman, Executives
and Members of Ondo State NUJ for focusing “Herdsmen Attacks Farmers” as Theme
for their 2016 Democracy Day Lecture and selecting Otunba Gani Adams as Lead
Speaker.
The Press needs to lead Nigerians to
distinguish between PMB Body Language promoting discipline and honesty that
should be commended and PMB Body Language promoting atrocities and criminality
that must be condemned.
PMB Democracy Day Speech that omitted
policy direction of his government towards finding lasting solution to Fulani
Herdsmen Menace is fresh evidence that PMB Body Language promoting atrocities
and criminality needs to STOP immediately, if PMB is genuinely interested in
promoting and protecting National Interest. Otherwise, the ultimate
consequences for PMB and indeed Nigeria and over 170 million Nigerians could be
catastrophic.
PMBs’ good points including Body Language
as Force for Good must be commended and celebrated. PMBs’ Body Language as
Force for Evil must be contained and condemned. As all Great Men have Great
Weaknesses, Nigerians will be putting Nigeria in harm’s way, if the Press does
not spotlight urgent need to effectively manage PMBs’ Weaknesses, including
Body Language as Force for Evil.
Let us be clear; as long as we keep
calling spade, hand tool, we will continue to reject the fact that a rose by
whatever name called remain a rose. We must recognize the fact that Fulani Leaders
know Fulani Herdsmen have no regard for Authority and the Right of other
Nigerians; that the only known Organized Private Sector among Pastoralists are
Fulani Herdsmen; that to the Ordinary Nigerian Fulani Herdsmen is Generic Name
for Fulani, Bororo, Hausa, Egbira etc Pastoralists; that Fulani constitute over
80% of these Ethnic Pastoralists; that Fulani Pastoralists Rights Stop Where
Rights of other Nigerians – including Farmers Start; that Fulani Livestock is
their Farm Business and Farmers Crops is their Farm Business; that Fulani
Herdsmen in Protecting their Farm Business CANNOT Destroy with IMPUNITY the
Farm Business of other Nigerians.
It appears President Buhari, Police and
Military High Command did not weight the implication of admitting publicly,
even to the international media that Herdsmen rampaging across all States in
the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria are Foreigners and that ECOWAS Protocol
allow free entry into Nigeria. First, ECOWAS Protocol cannot demand that a
Country freely allow Criminals into their Country who attack their Citizens at
will, with impunity and without check. If any such ECOWAS Protocol exists,
Nigeria under President Buhari MUST take urgent Steps to CHANGE such Protocol.
Secondly, the Nigerian President – a
General of Generals is admitting that His Police, Military and Para Military
Agencies including Immigration High Command are Grossly Incompetent or engaged
in Grand Corruption and so they are looking on Helpless and Powerless as
Foreigners – Criminals spread Blood and Tears across Nigeria. Clearly, such
dirty linen should not be washed in the public by a President with his
pedigree.
We are dealing with Governance Systems
Failure. Governments must recognize that Fulani Menace is Grand Corruption –
Pure and Simple. It is incomprehensible that Buhari Administration that claim
to the Fighting Corruption, can be comatose and powerless Fighting Fulani
Menace that is virtually All Embracing and All Inclusive of Commonly Occurring
Forms of Corruption – Abuse of Power, Intimidation, Torture; Perversion of
Justice, Criminal Behavior, Fake Evidence, Unlawful Detention, Frame Ups;
Bribery and Graft, Extortion; Unauthorized Use of Public Office and Public
Property; Manipulation of Regulations; Influence Peddling, Favor Brokering,
Conflicts of Interest; Link with Organized Crime; Cronyism, Cover Ups; Illegal Surveillance
etc.
Yes, Civil Servants and Security Agencies
“Some of the Time” ignore or partially comply with Presidential Written and or
Verbal Directives. However, Civil Servants and Security Agencies “All of the
Time” COMPLY Fully with Presidential Written and or Verbal Directives that is
backed by Clear and Urgent SIGNAL, because they know full well that sanction
for sabotage will be prompt and grievous. Is lack of such Clear and Urgent
SIGNAL not one of the reasons Fulani Menace is getting worse rather than
abating?
Again, let us be clear – should Government
continue to look on and allow Fulani Menace to become full blown at this time
that nerves of other Nigerians are raw from Petrol Increases and other Economic
Hardships, it could just the next Fulani Herdsmen Attack that would ignite
National Challenge and Crisis that make Boko Haram Childs’ Play. Therefore, if
Fulani Menace is not to DESTROY Nigeria while President Buhari looks on;
Nigeria MUST DESTROY Fulani Menace with PMB as Chief Champion. Please NOTE that
there is Difference between Destroying Fulani Menace which is Urgently Needed and
Destroying Fulani that No One in His / Her Right Senses is Advocating for.
Destroying Fulani Menace is
#endfulanimenace and calls for Nigeria Rescue Mission that Works Driven by
recognition of the fact that the Fulani Menace underline root problems of
Agriculture, Security, Development, Diplomacy, Peace, Climate Change, Culture,
Governance, Accountability, Transparency, Justice, Corruption, Terrorism,
Slavery, Law, Order, Sanctions Enforcement, Citizens Participation and Nigeria
Factor. These are complex issues that demand strategic, tactical and
professional response. The reality is that very few Consultants anywhere in our
World today have the Hard Competences: Learning and Skills and Soft
Competences: Character, Courage and Mindset to effectively support Governments,
Farmers, Herdsmen, Security Agencies, Judiciary and their Partners in the work
towards finding sustainable solutions, fully implementing these solutions with
effective monitoring and evaluation of this implementation.
This is where Civil Society Organizations
like OPC come in. Firstly, OPC must recognize that they have derailed from
their Original Vision of Defending the Rights of Ethnic Yorubas’. Secondly, a
Reformed and Reunited OPC should metamorphose from Ethnic Militia into Civilian
Task Force focused on Promoting and Protecting Justice Access, Community
Policing, Ending Hunger, Ending Poverty and Ending Corruption issues in the
South West Zone as it affects all Peoples – Citizens and Residents in the Zone.
It is clear that things are really bad in
our Country today; that it is Security Agencies – Police, Military, Para
Military and Intelligence including their Civilian Task Force such as OPC;
Journalists – Print, Radio, Television and Online and Development Cooperation
Consultants with required minimum levels of Hard and Soft Competences that can
help the Buhari Administration to Design and Deliver National Rescue Mission
that works to find lasting solutions to Fulani Menace, Nigeria Factor and
related real and complex Nigeria Sustainable Development Problems on the ground
at each Community in each of 774 LGAs; 36 States, FCT, 6 Zones, National and
International levels.
Garba Shehu said on NTA last Night that
PMB looked Nigerians in the face and told us to swallow bitter pill of Petrol
Price increase. Nigerians Complied. Nigerians in turn should look PMB in the
face and DEMAND he swallow bitter pill of ending Body Language as Force for
Evil. PMB should reciprocate by complying. Also it is in PMB’s enlightened self
interest that he comply and without delay. All who genuinely love PMB – Fulanis
and Non Fulanis; Nigerians and Non Nigerians within and beyond the shores of
Nigeria who have unrestricted access to PMB should persuade and if necessary
PRESSURE PMB to comply with this DEMAND. The future of the Buhari Presidency
and indeed Nigeria could depend on whether or not PMB comply with this DEMAND
and on time.
ACTION TIME: Everyone in this room: Please assume you
are One on One with PMB and PMB is the Next Person to you. 1 Tap the Person 2.
Then say after me: PMB: Fulani Menace is Real; Stop Looking On;
#endfulanimenace NOW.
To Kick Start, we have copies of letter to
PMB through DSS hand delivered on 17 March 2016 setting out sustainable
solutions for #endfulanimenace that Buhari Administration seem to have ignored
and yet have not set out alternative comprehensive solutions. Let the Press
lead the Way and OPC continue to PUT on the Front Burner in the National Arena
– Urgent Need for PMB to clearly answer this BIG QUESTION: Where is the Problem
– Is it on DSS side – State Director did not pass letter to DG DSS? – let her
provide evidence as to when letter left Akure or DG DSS did not pass letter to
PMB? – let him provide evidence when letter was forwarded to State House. Is it
on State House side – President Office did not pass letter to PMB or PMB did
not act on the letter?
This country belongs to all Nigerians –
Fulani Herdsmen, Farmers and other Nigerians. If PMB lead all Nigerians to
effectively demonstrate the letters and spirit of our National Anthem and
National Pledge in the Public and Private lives of each Nigerian – Elders, Men,
Women, Youth and Children, AMAZING TRANSFORMATION would occur before our very
eyes, the Nigeria Dream would be achieved and Nigeria would take her rightful
place in the Comity of Nations.
God is READY to help us if PMB, Fulani
Herdsmen, Farmers, Security Agencies, Judiciary, Media and other Nigerians are
Ready to Help themselves.
We thank you for the privileged to address
this gathering and Pray that the Nigeria Dream will be Reality in the lifetime
of this Generation and the Touch will be passed on for Generations. Happy 2016
Democracy Day. God Bless you. God Bless Nigeria.
Contact: nehap.initiative@yahoo.co.uk
