Obasanjo on ‘Fulanisation And Islamisation’  of West Africa

THE palpitations and fear of Nigerians on the nation’s insecurity challenges was recently hyped by the loud warnings of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The retired General, who is perceived to have access to local and global intelligence on terrorism wanted a paradigm shift on the causes of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen insurgence. While speaking on the topic: “Mobilising Nigeria’s Human and Natural Resources for National Development and Stability”, at the second session of the Synod of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, he had declared unequivocally, that the aim of the insurgencies and terrorist attacks was ‘Fulanisation’ of West Africa and Islamisation of Africa.

VARIOUS reactions had expectedly followed the observations and bold declaration of the elder statesman. Some have hailed the declaration as being plausible and authentic. Their support is borne out of the increasing spate of kidnappings, ambush, destructions of lives and properties of hapless Nigerians and perceived romance of the Federal Government with an ethnic group that has been notorious for murderous activities in the nation.  On the  other hand, some have perceived the former General’s presentation as being diversionary, political, and petit and a strategy by the archenemy of President Muhammadu Buhari to plunge the nation into ethnic and religious mayhem.

THE Hope however observes that despite the political leanings of former General and President, Olusegun Obasanjo, he has been consistent in the support and development of a de-tribalised and united Nigeria.  In addition, given his pedigree and access to international intelligence reports, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is not one to cry wolf in the absence of none. Therefore The Hope is of the opinion that this opinion of the former President must be taken seriously by Nigerians and the ECOWAS community.

THIS becomes imperative as intelligence reports have hinted that terrorist organisations such as the Movement for the Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA), Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and the Macina Liberation Front (MLF) have made their home in the cast Sahel-Sahara region of Mali, Niger, Libya, and Chad.

FURTHERMORE, it is also important to note the General’s observations that soldiers are still “poorly trained, poorly equipped, poorly led and made to engage in propaganda rather than achieving results” has been a recurring and resounding echo  made by many public figures and military personnel in Nigeria. For example, it is a known fact that the Police are understaffed and ill equipped to maintain law and order in the various parts of the country, where insurgencies occur. The Nigerian government should take this rebuke in her stride and overhaul the training and equipment of security personnel in order to offer effective counter-terrorist resistance and curb the insurgents’ guerrilla tactics against the innocent and unharmed citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

GIVEN  the fact that issues of insecurity in Nigeria has been internationalized with the incursions of the group, Independent States of Iraq and Syria,  ISIS and Libyan merchants of war, THE HOPE agrees with the former President’s advice that curbing the devastating excesses of the Fulani herdsmen, bandits and Boko haram insurgents have gone beyond the wits and capacity of the Nigerian and West African Governments. Therefore concerted and global allied efforts should be sought, received and deployed against the escalating marauders in the West Africa sub region as a whole and Nigeria in particular.

FINALLY, rather than castigating former President Olusegun Obasanjo, The Hope insists there is the need for the South West Governors and statesmen; the  Federal Government and ECOWAS, to take heed to the warnings, engage in intelligence gathering, upgrade their security programmes, equip security personnel and prepare for war against the bloodletting invaders. The secular nature of Nigeria that gives everyone the right to religion   of choice must be safeguarded in Nigeria. Any attempt  to impose any form of religion on any  person in Nigeria must be viewed by the government as an attack on the serenity and unity of the nation and must be vehemently resisted. The Federal Government of Nigeria also has to revisit the issue of the establishment of State Police for effective policing system in a heterogeneous and expanse political system as Nigeria.

WE believe  that granting radio right to the Fulani herdsmen was not only a wrong step but   a tacit approval to their ignoble activities in the country. We thus advise that Federal Government should discontinue with the project.

DOING otherwise world  send signal that the group is a “sacred cow and should be protected no matter what.

A stitch in time would save nine as foretold war does not kill a wise cripple.