TRUMP’S VULGAR WORDS, WHAT THE WISE WILL RATHER DO

The comment made by US President, Donald Trump in reference to Africans and few other immigrants has been on media and has continued to stir anger as Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Americas (NIDOA) and some other African countries has been lashing out at Trump in defense of their dignity.

It is uncalled for, that such discriminatory and derogatory statement should proceed from the mouth of the President of one of the Super Power countries in this 21^st century. If the insult was just about dwindling growth and development, it would have been easy to swallow, but the fact that Trump’s insult insinuates that some skin colours and appearances are disgusting, reduces his reputation as the president of the United States.

It was gathered that President Trump balked an immigration deal that would include protections for people from Haiti and some nations in Africa, demanding to know at a White House meeting why he should accept immigrants from “shithole countries” rather than from places like Norway.  He made those statements during a discussion of an emerging bipartisan deal to give legal status to immigrants illegally brought to the United States as children. According to people with direct knowledge of the conversation, he prefers people who are completely whites to come into America rather than blacks and mixed up countries.

If Trump had meant to protect American citizens from foreigners by making it difficult for all foreigners to US to get a Visa, it would have been a commendable thing to do as a president because it is the duty of a president to protect his citizens from strangers whose intentions are not known, but in this case, it is a xenophobic statement. The entire world expects Donald Trump to be more responsible, but in any case, human will always be human, but we need to read the times and grow up. At least, that is what our God expects us to do.

The fact remains that Trump has made vulgar statements against Africans and will not take back his words even if he apologizes. With the look of things, if he sees another opportunity, he will still use such vulgar statements. I have been wondering, if Africans or Nigerians had managed their resources well and used them for growth and development, will Nigeria stoop so low to worship America to the extent that it will share in such vulgar statements? If our president who should be protecting and promoting his country can make statements while speaking in a foreign land, that suggest that Nigerians are criminals, then, I think Trump’s offence is not that grave after all. In fact I feel like commending him to an extent for holding his country to a high esteem. African leaders especially Nigeria should strive for growth and development in order to stand out among the developed nations.

It is normal for us to react to Trump’s vulgar statements but as we fret over it, we need to do what the wise will rather do. The anger from the provocation should drive us into breaking away from mediocrity and becoming the best. Who said that Nigeria or one of the African countries cannot be a super power, capable of attracting the other super powers? Trump’s vulgar words can be a vehicle to a wiser and better Africans, if we can ride on it.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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Richest Pastors in an Impoverished Nation

For quite some time now, the gossip about the richest men of God and questions about tithe and offering has been on social media. Nigerians have been furious about how some men of God acquire wealth by compelling their members to sow seed, to double their tithes and offer God fat offerings for God to bless them. Many people have continued to question the fact that these men of God feed fat on their poor members without minding how these members are faring. Most of these men of God measure God’s goodness and presence in their lives by the number of cars they ride on, number of churches and how big their cathedrals are, in addition to the competition of who owns a private jet.

Church members on the other hand have become so gullible that they believe everything their pastor says; whether it is working in their lives or not. They believe and trust their pastors that they seldom reason in line with God’s word and purpose for their lives, in order to flow in the direction God has specially planned for them. Some have become beggars after giving all they had in obedience to seed sowing command from the ‘prophets of God’, in the name of pleasing God and getting reward.

When Elijah met the widow at Zarephath, he asked her for water to drink and bread to eat, and just like he told the widow, who complained that she only had a square meal for herself and her son, the widow was blessed and she never lacked again until the drought was over. These days we see helpless worshipers who continually sow seed, pay tithe, give fat offerings without anything to show for it; in the long run, some of them will lose faith in God or even cause Him for what is not His making.

The richest pastors or General Overseers according to media ranking as published by Naij.com are:

1. Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Tabernacle also known as Winners Chapel who is worth about N54 billion. He controls churches in 45 African nations as well as in Dubai, the United Kingdom and the United States. He is also the owner of Covenant University, Sango Ota, Ogun state.

2. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy who is worth about N18 billion. He is the founder of Believers’ Love World Incorporated where he has shot a lot of top Nigerian gospel artists into limelight. He also owns three separate television channels that gather up to 2.5 million views per nightly event.

3. Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who is worth about N14 billion according to the list of the richest pastors. He began his career in preaching while still maintaining a professorship at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Pastor Adeboye has a goal to put a church ‘within 5 minutes’ of every home in the world with about 14,000 branches in Nigeria alone.

4. Prophet T.B. Joshua of Synagogue Church of all Nations who is worth about N3.6 billion. He has over 1.5 million Face book fans

So many others who are eyeing the success of these men of God in ministry and are imitating them are in the pipeline.

Almost all these pastors have universities built with the seed of the majority of the poor in their midst, yet, those poor people cannot afford to send their children there. They have packed jets which are consuming instead of generating money. They have many churches worldwide, yet crime increases on daily basis. In most of these churches, the rich get richer while the poor get poorer, and when the expectations of the poor are not being met, frustration will drive them out into the streets. A hungry man has the need of food and should be fed before he or she responds to preaching and praying. Preaching, prophecies or prayers administered to a hungry or needy person has no life in it. In fact, it is an insult to God Almighty, especially when it comes from the person who can do more than pray.

Peter and John told the lame man they saw at the beautiful gate that they have no silver or gold to give him but they made him walk, which is what that man needs most to enable him mine for gold and silver by himself instead of begging. There are many jobless, hungry and frustrated people in our churches who can’t even open up because the men of God around them and big men and women in their churches are no go areas for them. Their problems will be solved when jobs are created, their problems will be solved when they are empowered intellectually and financially to do business, their problems will be solved when they have food on their tables.

Violence, crime, destruction of lives and properties have become a tradition in Nigeria and poor people suffer it the most, yet all we hear from the men of God is pray. The prophecies that come to us concerning the current happenings are prayers, prayers, prayers, and nothing but to pray. Are we going to continue praying until we are all wiped out?  Are God’s ears not itching because of our too many unnecessary petitions, as a result of our  dumbness and inability to read and understand the times? God cannot come down from heaven to engage in the fight or battle of words when we are here. The men of God who have eaten fat from their poor members and are swimming in billions should please rise and speak because they have all it takes for their voices to be heard, if not, they are not being relevant because the politicians also swim in billions, as a result of exploiting the masses, it makes them all the same; no difference.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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MALICIOUS LAWS TO RECONSIDER

The secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, has explained the reason for the payment of N40 million to the account of a former president instead of buying vehicles. According to law, former presidents and heads of state are entitled to vehicles but Mustapha said it was monetized for a particular president.

According to Premium Times, the secretary to the government of the federation said that they are entitled to that by law, saying they took a decision to give them the money to buy vehicles of their choices instead of buying the vehicles. He said that one of them qualified for it this year and that was why the N40 million was paid, adding that the remaining will qualify for it next year or thereabout.

However, Senator Duro Faseyi who is a member of the committee argued that giving them money is against the appropriation act, as there is no clause that said they should be given money instead. This is aside the numerous allowances and entitlements legalized to be paid and given to the former heads of state and some others.

It is not far-fetched indeed that our past and present leaders are the real enemies of Nigeria. Nigerian laws are made just to favour them. It doesn’t matter whether the country will die after them or not.

Good leadership is a call for sacrifice. If at all our leaders mean well for this country, then they ought to pity this country by giving up some of their outrageous benefits for the country to grow. When that sacrifice is made, then there will be growth and development and everybody will enjoy, either in their own time or generations to come.

The today’s generation enjoying in developed countries are enjoying the sweat and sacrifice of generations before them. Don’t our past leaders have cars presently? Don’t they have enough money stored in banks for their generations unborn? Of course they can survive comfortably with what they already have. Their greed just wouldn’t allow them to make some sacrifices for the growth of the country they call their own.

These are the leaders whose contributions to the development of Nigeria have never been felt by Nigerians. What meaning achievement did they make during their time as leaders? I forgot that calling them leaders is a grammatical error because they are not; they are just politicians. We are not slaves to the laws we made. Most of our laws are malicious and should be viewed as repugnant to natural justice, equity and good judgment. Some of these laws have turned most Nigerians to complete idiots. If Nigeria must survive, then our laws must be revisited because our laws are more of our problems.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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ILLEGAL MIGRATION – NIS PLEASE STOP BORDER LEAKAGE

Nigerian immigration Service is charged with the responsibilities of aliens control and border patrol management; and the issuance of all Nigerian travel documents among others. Modern technologies like the e-passport has made it possible for them to be able to fight against trans-border criminality as the e-passport contains the biometric details of holders, thus making it easy for detection of persons travelling under false identities or compromised travel documents. According to reports, they equally have a well-equipped forensic laboratory for the examination of travel documents and monetary instruments.

Despite all these, our borders have become so porous that people enter and go out of the country without any form of restriction.  Border security is very important in boosting the image of any country and it helps to protect the residents of a defined territory. The rate of criminal activities has become so high including border trespassing.  Many aliens come through illegal routes (be it land, sea or air), while others bribe their way across the borders. This could be a contributory factor to incessant killings in Nigeria. 

Instead of being protective of Nigerian boundaries, Nigeria Immigration Service has made itself a cesspool of corruption, nepotism, and primordial sentiments. Before the introduction of e-passport, the rate at which the members of staff forge passport is very alarming. Then it was very easy for an individual to have multiple passports bearing different names, and also very easy for non-Nigerians to get the country’s green passport. Thanks to the e-passport which has reduced these fraudulent practices, though has not eliminated it. To express their appreciation following the introduction of e-passport system, NIS has made it so impossible to get it. It takes weeks and months to get, except for the person who is ready to rob fingers.

Their corruption did not stop there, as applicants are made to illegally pay thousands of Naira to a syndicate in exchange for limited job vacancies. Nigerian Immigration staff are busy entertaining their greedy self while Nigerian borders have become so porous which have led to the influx of illegal immigrants into the country, not to talk of Nigerians who leave the borders of the country to other countries illegally.

Why should we allow Foreigners to enter the country as they please and do whatever they like without making them go through rigorous procedures and questioning to ascertain who they are, where they came from, what they have come to do and when they are leaving, and monitor same? The citizens of this country also leave the borders of Nigeria without notice, yet, we have immigration service in place.

Nigeria is old enough to secure its borders and have some privacy. Entry into the country and exit out of the country should be properly regulated to protect Nigerian citizens from intruders and also stop most Nigerians from exiting the country just to go and die or become slaves to others in foreign lands like Libya, Europe, etc. The Federal Government should address the issues that revolve around immigration, as it could be a step to addressing the insecurity situation in the country. More hands should be employed for NIS to do their jobs well. If they are not well paid, then government should make sure this is addressed; they should be provided with the necessary assistance that will enable them tighten the security across our borders and stop the leakages.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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JONATHAN VS BUHARI – THE GAME OF COMPARISON

Many Nigerians have been in tears since the beginning of this year. Many Nigerian families are in mourning, and mass burials are ongoing. On the other hand, The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina is busy digging deep to defend the president’s inability to live up to his responsibility.

In a video he posted on his Facebook page, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina insisted that the recent spate of killings by herdsmen in parts of the country had nothing to do with Buhari being Fulani, saying that over 756 people were killed by herdsmen in two years under former President Goodluck Jonathan, therefore, the killing didn’t start under Buhari.

Making statistical comparisons of people killed between Jonathan’s administration and that of Buhari shows that Aso Rock is indeed filled up with bunch of illiterates. How can he even make such comparisons at this time?

President Buhari is not a child and before he came back into power he already knows the height of insecurity in the country. He has been in power before; that means he has got enough experience that should teach him to be proactive. He came back to power with promises that he will stop the killings. As an experienced politician and an elderly Nigerian, his promises only conveyed the message that he has already pre-planned and mapped out strategies on how to protect Nigerians before contesting for presidency. That is what Nigerians expect. They expected him to take over power again adopting proactive measures and not the other way round. Nigerians don’t expect the flimsy reasons coming from the presidency. They are rather disappointed because President Buhari has failed to perform all the magic he promised to perform, which he accused Jonathan countless times of not performing. He should know better; he ought to have come back to power with solutions and not flimsy reasons. Is he no longer the strong man he claimed to be that Jonathan is not?

He should act like the president and give workable commands that will stop the killings of Nigerians, even if it is just to reduce it to the barest minimum. We will not all die before he comes up with a solution that he ought to have entered Aso Rock with in the first place. His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity should stop digging for facts to defend the president’s irresponsibility because it makes him look more stupid than Nigerians think of him.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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RIGHT ATTITUDE TO VOTE CAMPAIGN

Election is a formal group decision making process whereby an individual chooses a particular candidate that will hold a particular office for a set number of years. Election is the means through which the offices of executive, legislature and judiciary, are filled both at the federal and state levels. 

The power to vote or not to vote during elections is in the hands of the adult citizens. The decision made by those who are eligible to vote goes a long way to determine how the nation or state will be governed. In Nigeria, those that participate in the voting process are usually few. The citizens can cue to collect their voter’s card whenever it is tied to their bank account but only few will turn out to vote with same when the time comes for them to go out and vote. 

The common Nigerians have many excuses and reasons why they will not vote but are the first to die in the hands of terrorists like boko haram, Fulani herdsmen, etc.; they are the ones who fill the hospital beds because of water borne diseases or diseases caused by dirty environment; etc. Some of their excuses for not voting are: If you vote them into power, they will not keep their promises; whether I vote or not, I will still suffer to put food on my table; Are they the ones feeding me? Etc. Flimsy reasons from the most affected Nigerians that will never take us anywhere. Yet, these are the people that have the power to shape Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Fulani herdsmen and other enemies of Nigeria will leave their cattle and their other engagements on the day of election to go and vote for those who will protect their cannibalistic desires. True Nigerians need to grow up.

Nigerians need political education. We need to create a strong political awareness in Nigeria to sensitize Nigerians on the right attitude to vote. If we must change Nigeria, then well meaning Nigerians should embark on personal and group #RightAttitudeToVoteCampaign to sensitive the political illiterates in Nigeria. We will all die one day if we continue to keep quiet. This is not a matter of God forbid because our God is also the God of all those who have lost their lives to Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, those whose deaths are caused by economic hardship and environmental pollution.

God cannot come down from heaven and do for us what He has given us the sense and wisdom to do for our own good. If our employer in our offices or those higher than us gives us job to do, we use our brain to figure out how to do it in order to make them happy; or do we go back to disturb them at every move for them to tell us how to do the job they have given us to do. No, we dare not, if we do, then we are not relevant, and should be replaced. But in our case with God, we not only disturb Him to teach us how to live the life He has entrusted to us, which He gladly does by His daily guidance, but we also disturb Him every now and again to do that job for us. It is high time we stop disturbing God except for help and guidance. It is time we go ahead and chose a good leader using our votes and power as citizens instead of just praying and crying to God every time for good leadership. It is time to do our own part as humans, by so doing; we will enjoy God’s benefit and blessings.

Media workers; TV and Radio stations, Journalists and bloggers have a role to play in making sure that the people are well sensitized to vote right. They should make sure they educate the public before the campaign starts to make sure that the people are well equipped to overcome the negative spirit of politics that possesses people during the elections. Users of social media like face book, Twitter, Instagram, etc should endeavour to circulate or share every blog or post that will educate people on the right attitude to vote. We have to change Nigeria. People need to be enlightened and empowered before the elections. This is not the time to collect any change from the politicians because that chicken change never lasts for a day or month as the case may be. This is not the time for TV and Radio stations to campaign for their favourites because after the campaign and elections, when workers will be owed salaries, it will affect all. We need to stop trading our birthright for a meal of porridge.

If we campaign against APC or PDP, politicians are ready to recycle themselves through another party of our choice because they still have the money they stole from us. They not only have the money, they have connections and they believe they own Nigeria. So what do we do? It is certain that we must have to vote for some people and it is obvious that we no longer want to recycle leaders and their cabals. Already, they have started winning our votes with their sugar coated mouths. They have started to deceive us gradually. They are already using their weapon of lies to win our conscience and blackmail us emotionally. Their campaign groups will soon start their propaganda and jingoistic metaphors. They will soon start telling us that an opponent attacked them or said this or that against them in order to win our sympathy, and we, been so gullible will become their victim. That is why we need to equip ourselves with enough weapon of information to overcome their propaganda when the time comes. But who are those eligible for our votes?

God has given us common sense. There are three people we cannot lie to and they are; God, ourselves and the devil. We cannot deceive God and we cannot deceive ourselves. Devil on the other hand knows those who are his and those who are not. Those who we know that can serve as good leaders and can handle executive, legislative and judiciary offices live among us. Majority of them, if not all shy away from Nigerian politics because they cannot contend with the gorillas, baboons, etc that occupy political offices. 

We have the mandate to judge correctly and identify these men of integrity and intellectuals among us without fear or favour, and without religious or tribal sentiments. Not because they have favoured us individually but because their leadership will favour the masses generally. This will be a matured step to freedom for Nigerians. When we identify these ones, we should pressure them to contest and we should go ahead to support them by organizing a massive campaign for them without looking at the benefits, and then, going all out to vote for them when the time comes. By so doing, we will be voting out the gorillas, baboons, etc. and voting in those who are humans.

Another four years is too much time to live in fear and pain. Every blood that has been shed in Nigeria shows the irresponsibility of both Nigerian leaders and those Nigerians who have refused to do the right thing during elections. Should we fold our hands again and watch them spill more blood. Let us do that which we are supposed to do as humans and leave the rest for God. Who knows whose turn it will be, to be slaughtered if we refuse to use our weapon, which is our voter’s card. The time to act is now!

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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POST UTME SHOULD REMAIN SCRAPED

Greed indeed has stuck in the nerves of many Nigerians and requires series of surgery to uproot. Tertiary institutions in Nigeria have not yet overcome their loss since the scraping of Post UTME in the school system, as they no longer have the opportunity to extort money from the helpless candidates seeking admission. To make up for their loss, it is obvious they are exploring other possible means of filling their pockets without thinking of the welfare of their victims.

Recently, the reports has it that The federal government issued queries to 42 universities that were discovered to have charged more than the N2,000 instructed by the education ministry to conduct the 2017 post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations. The reports had it that this was revealed by the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede at a stakeholders’ meeting on the 2018 UTME in Abuja.

According to Oloyede, the Education Minister Adamu Adamu ordered that the excess should be returned to the affected candidates while the excess from those candidates who could not be traced should be paid to a non-religious orphanage.

Why the payment of N2000 in the first place just to check certificates after paying for Jamb, or have they succeeded in bringing back the scraped Post UTME again? Why does it seem like getting admission abroad is now easier for Nigerians than getting it in Nigeria? Nigeria should fix its educational structure once and for all and make it work. The idea of introducing series of educational policies is not the best because if we cannot make the former to work then that same problem that affected the former structure will also affect the later. There is no magic.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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Benue Killings – Benue Governor Urges Arrest of the Leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore

The killing of innocent people in Benue State by the Fulani herdsmen has continued to raise dust. People must be itching to hear that arrest has taken place which is exactly what must be done. The perpetrators should be prosecuted without too much talking. But this is Nigeria and anything can happen. Will this case again be treated like nothing? Will it again be swept under the carpet? Well let’s keep our hands crossed and see what happens.

Meanwhile, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, in an interview with newsmen spoke on the New Year attacks and killings on account of the anti-open grazing law and the consequent protests. He said that the right thing to do is for the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibility and arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who did not hide its feelings but threatened to frustrate the anti-open grazing law, adding that if the Federal Government do not do this, then they are simply saying that Benue State is not part of Nigeria.

Femi Fani-Kayode was very blunt about the matter. In his tweet, he said, “Buhari is using his Fulani herdsmen to wage a silent genocidal jihad. 120 innocent souls slaughtered like "point and kill" catfish and the very next day he appoints a DG for his 2019 press campaign organization. How can anyone be so cold, callous, cruel and insensitive”? I thank God for honest people.

On the interview involving Benue State Governor, Nigerian Tribune of January 6, 2018 has the reports.

The killings in some parts of Benue State on the New Year Day were followed by violent protests. What is the situation now sir?

What started as a very peaceful demonstration from the students of Benue State turned into a rowdy situation, but I understand, I can feel the anger of the people. Even me as a leader, I had to control myself when I saw the level of damage that was done against my people. But in situations like this, the simple message I was trying to pass to the youths and the rest of Benue people is to remain calm.

This government is proactive and will continue to be proactive in ensuring the security of lives and property. The promulgation of open grazing law was an initiative of the Benue people and it is very popular among the people. For us, that is the only way we can ensure peace for farmers and herdsmen to coexist and live together.

Ranching is the global best practice; there is no other alternative and, even up till today, I know that there is no other alternative. I want to appeal to my people to remain calm. In situations like this you cannot think of reprisal or anger to be a solution to the problem that has been caused. As a law-abiding people, let us continue to be law-abiding and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. I have reported this to President Muhammadu Buhari; I have reported to the security agencies and they are working towards it. I have repeated my call that the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, should be arrested. I had earlier given this notice to the security agencies and reported these people to the presidency because they came out boldly and said they were going to resist the law and they will do everything possible to sabotage what we are doing.

How far has government gone to calm frayed nerves?

Since when we got wind of this incident, we did not waste time. I had to break from our Security Council meeting and I personally visited two scenes of the incident in Guma and Logo local government areas. I was to complete the visit to the remaining two scenes, but unfortunately time has caught up with me. But we have already, with the Security Council, done the deployment of security agents to all the places and I am appealing to the people not to begin to run away from their villages until we are able to handle this.

The splinter group of Miyetti Alla Kautal Hore had in the past threatened to frustrate the anti-open grazing law…

I think the right thing to do is for the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibility and arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who did not hide its feelings and came out and said this. If the Federal Government does not do this, they are telling us that we are not part of Nigeria and it will be unfortunate because it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide security for us. The security apparatus of this country belongs to the Federal Government and they have the capacity.

This people are known, I have reported them to the president and, currently, they have taken us to court. They issued several press statements and threats against us and their threats have become reality. They are living in Abuja with the Federal Government, so why can’t the Federal Government do something?

If they are not arrested, they are throwing us into a state of anarchy which is wrong. We have done everything to ensure that peace prevails here. I want to assure all people living in Benue State that we will continue to protect them, provide security for lives and property. But let us restrain our anger, although it is painful. I understand and feel the pains of Benue people; I feel the pains of Benue youths; I feel the pains of mothers; I feel the pains of fathers whose relations have been murdered in cold blood, but I want to assure them that justice will take its course. This law remains a law in Benue State and there is no going back on it. The perpetrators must be brought to book and I can assure you that Benue will be well.

There is a debate going on about community policing and it seems that you are handicapped and you are not in a position to issue a command for an immediate action. Does this make you see the need for state police in the country?

Concerning the issue of state police, I remain committed to democratic principles. It is not for me to decide whether we should have state police or not but if the people, the stakeholders of Benue State, agree, I will have no objection to having state police. But this is something that has to be subjected to a debate and we get the inputs of all stakeholders so that we weigh the various options. The federal and state police, what are the implications that will be when we have state police? We will weigh them and once we agree, can make our position known. Whether state police or federal police, what is important is for the police to enforce the law. That is what I am saying. Police must enforce the law; let there be no sacred cows as we are seeing today. I have reported Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, their president and secretary; these are two persons who persistently alerted us that they are going to come into Benue State to cause havoc and they have done it. I am repeating that call; if there is another place where I can take my case, I will do it. I have no option, but I believe that I reported this to the president and he assured me that he would get the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to act and I believe that that will be complied with and, until that is done, I am not going to rest.

Aside the communities that were attacked for two days, are there other ones that have been attacked?

The attacked communities, like I said, we visited Tomatar where a lot of people were killed. This is also part of Guma, but on the other side of the river and I also visited Azege in Logo local government area where people were also killed and some were wounded. I also visited the temporary refugee camps in Tse Abi and Agenke in Guma Local Government Area and Ayilamo in Logo Local Government Area. There are other two places that were also attacked in Umenger in Guma Local Government Area. This is the other side of the river and also in my council ward in Ako. These are the two sites that I am yet to visit, but I intend to do so. Some people were wounded and some were also killed there too, but I’m yet to get the full brief from there.

While you were going round to inspect some flashpoints in Tomatar, you were said to have come across some bullet proof vests with the colours of the Nigeria Army. How true is this?

On the bullet proof vests, I was also told, but I am yet to see them; I am waiting. It was when I left that I received a phone call, but in situations like this, you don’t act on rumour. I have heard a lot of things, but I am waiting to confirm because coming from me will mean that it is authentic information and so you have to be careful to be sure of what you are saying as a leader, otherwise you will create other challenges which you may not be able to control.

You went out to address the youths that were protesting the killings and you were almost killed, having told the Federal Government that there is a level to which you can control your people. What can you say about the sad development?

On the incident, you can feel the anger,; you can see the anger of the youths and so I also feel the pains, I am also angry but the Bible says be angry, but do not let the sun go down on your wrath. So, even when you are angry, you have to find a way of controlling it, otherwise you will mess up yourself. So that is why I am appealing to youths, for it is said that two wrongs cannot make a right. We can’t solve this problem by creating another wrong. Government is on top of the situation as at today. The Security Council met and it is still meeting. It was as a result of the blockage that the Security Council decided to move to the scene and appeal to the youths to allow free movement, but it became rowdy. But like I said, these are really very sad days for Benue State. Corpses were brought to the mortuary and when we visited more corpses were being brought in and even today more corpses were discovered. So, you can see the anger of the people and that is why government must act.

One thing that will give the people confidence is when the president and the secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are arrested and prosecuted because there is enough evidence about what they have done and I am accusing them directly and I expect that to be done. Since I have reported to the president, I am waiting to have a response from the security agencies because people should not operate with impunity. If we do that and everybody decides to take laws into his hands, then we are calling for anarchy and you don’t know the extent that can go.

Challenges are meant to be overcome and I believe that God will help us to definitely overcome this and I believe that, tomorrow, those who are resisting this law (the anti-grazing law) will celebrate it for there is no way of moving forward, arising from the challenges that we have today in Nigeria on land. The land is no longer there and I will continue to say it. We are farmers and there is no way we can surrender our land again for grazing. All business people who are willing to go into cattle-rearing business are free to obtain permit and do ranching in Benue State.

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BLOODBATH IN BENUE STATE BY FULANI HERDSMEN

It seems to me that people in power are waiting for the total annihilation of the lower class and even the middle class before they will decide on what to do to stop the incessant killings going on in the country.  The rate at which they theorize issues or speak grammar of regret and condemnation of killing without doing anything serious to stop it is heart breaking. Slowly, the strength of Nigeria and its manpower are butchered in their tens and hundreds, yet all we hear is news of how government regrets and condemns the killings and what they are planning to do. If our lives are not valued even in our own country, why will it be valued outside Nigeria? No wonder Nigerian illegal emigrants are slaughtered by other Africans outside Nigeria.  

When will all these killings stop? When will President Buhari perform the magic that he said his predecessor is incapable of performing? We are talking about human beings here, not animals. Are they waiting for Nigerians to be wiped out completely before they swung to action? If they are actually Nigerians they should act fast, otherwise, I don’t see them as Nigerians because they are just the smart ones who receive salaries and allowances for doing nothing. As far as I am concerned, the active Nigerians are being slaughtered and it has to stop.

Meanwhile, below is the report of the Benue killings culled from This Day of January 4, 2018.

Anger spilled out onto the streets of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, Wednesday over the gruesome killing of about 50 persons by suspected armed herdsmen in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of the state on New Year day and Tuesday.

Protesting residents, mostly youths, booed and stoned the state governor, Samuel Ortom, forcing the government to draft troops to quell the massive protest in the state capital and neighboring towns and to prevent mayhem.

The governor had gone to placate the restive youths at Wurukum where the protest was taking place in Makurdi Wednesday but he was met with angry youths who were incensed over his seeming inability to keep the marauding herders in check.

The placard carrying protesters also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over his failure to provide adequate security for the state.

The president, however, condemned the mindless killings and wanton destruction of property in the state, and ordered the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.

This is just as the police in Benue said Wednesday they had arrested eight herdsmen over the deaths of 10 persons and seven livestock guard in the Guma and Logo on Monday.

There has been tension in the state since the passage of the Anti-open Grazing Bill into law last November.

The law is meant to encourage ranching and check the menace of herders and their cattle, which often destroy farmlands in Benue and has led to bloody clashes and attacks in the past, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people in the state.

However, since the enactment of the law, the cattle breeders association, known as Miyetti Allah, have vowed to resist the law and were accused of threatening to carry out attacks against citizens in the state.

But in order to quell the protest in Makurdi Wednesday, soldiers from the 72 Battalion North Bank were brought in to control the protesting youths and restore order, after word got out that two protesters had been wounded.

The protesters called on the presidency to bring the culprits to book and carried placards with inscriptions such as “presidential intervention needed”, “why value cows more than humans”, and “stop this incessant blood bath”.

Some of them chanted: “We will not vote for the present administration again at both the state and federal levels if this crises don’t stop.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the protesters also barricaded major roads leading in and out of Makurdi, and vowed not to leave the streets until the presidency spoke on the killings.

They also called on the government to intervene in the series of other attacks on rural communities by armed herdsmen.

A resident, Mr. Terhemen Anum, told NAN that residents of Guma and Logo were yet to determine the number of peasant farmers, women, children and the aged that were massacred during the two-day killing spree.

Also, Mrs. Ruth Agba said the killing of Benue farmers and destruction to their homes and farms was no different from Boko Haram activities in the North-east.

Despite the anger, Ortom, while briefing reporters, called for calm over the situation and asked residents not to take the law into their hands.

He disclosed that more casualties of the attacks were still been brought to Makurdi, and confirmed that the carnage had been reported to the president.

“I have reported the matter to the president and we are expecting action. Some of the people we have evidence against are the leaders of Miyetti Allah who have been threatening the state. We are calling on the president to arrest them immediately,” he said.

He said the federal government should rise to its responsibility “if not they are saying Benue is not part of Nigeria”.

Buhari Orders Arrest

Reacting to the wanton killing spree in Benue, Buhari Wednesday in Abuja commiserated with the state governor and ordered the security agencies to fish out the killers.

The president, according to a terse statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, expressed immense sadness over the attacks on the two local government areas in Benue, describing them as wicked and callous attacks on even innocent children.

Shehu said the president assured the governor and people of the state that the relevant security agencies had been directed to do everything possible to arrest the culprits of the regrettable incidents and avert further attacks.

Describing the destruction as “one attack too many”, Shehu said the president added that “everything must be done to provide security for the people in our rural communities”, adding that Buhari also commiserated with families of the victims and wished those injured speedy recovery.

Also commenting on the wave of killings in the country in recent days, a former vice-president of Nigeria and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, described as unacceptable the cycle of blood-letting that has led to the loss of precious lives across the country.

Atiku made the charge against the backdrop of recent killings in Rivers, Kaduna, Benue and other parts of the country, including Wednesday’s early morning suicide bombing at the Gamboru mosque in Borno, barely three days into the New Year.

The Waziri Adamawa, according to a statement by his media office in Abuja Wednesday, said the killings in those states, and other senseless killings and reprisal blood-letting that had preceded them in the past across the country were ungodly, “a throwback to the stone age and a hindrance to the promotion of peace and unity in the country”.

Atiku stressed that the diversity of Nigeria remains one of its strongest points, reminding leaders of all persuasion and at all levels to ensure that they promote the things that unite Nigerians rather than those that create divisions.

“That the Almighty in His Wisdom made us a nation of different tongues and tribes; made us Africa’s most populous nation with more than 300 tribes is no accident. If well enhanced, our diversity should be our biggest strength.

“There cannot be development when innocent lives are being lost in a seemingly endless cycle of attacks and reprisals. While we should hold every life as precious, it is more painful that the victims of these attacks are women and youths – the demography that we depend upon to drive development,” he said.

The former vice-president called on Nigerians to use the opportunity of the New Year to reflect on these needless killings and to resolve to live in peace and harmony.

He also prayed for the fortitude of the bereaved families.

In its reaction also, the national leadership of the PDP condemned the recent terror attacks and killings unleashed on innocent Nigerians in Benue, Kaduna and Rivers States.

While reacting to the unfortunate incident Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said the president should take immediate steps to arrest all those behind the dastardly act.

“PDP condemns the wanton killings in some parts of our nation, particularly Benue State. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate arrest of the criminal herders murdering the people Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

 “These killings are horrible, senseless and wicked. This is a time when silence is not noble,” he said.

Similarly, the Benue State chapters of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the horrific killing of innocent people in the local government areas by suspected herdsmen.

The Benue PDP, in a press statement signed by its publicity secretary, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, said the state chapter of the party totally condemned the barbaric act, which it said qualified by every standard as an act of terrorism employed in the pursuit of an agenda that was genocidal in character.

“Our hearts go out in sympathy to the victims, the dead, those injured, and the displaced ones wandering about terrorized, dehumanized and thrust into the cruel, merciless embrace of destitution and hardship,” the state PDP said.

The party said it was unacceptable that Buhari has continued to concentrate on the deployment of security resources of the federal government solely on the Boko Haram challenge, while turning a blind eye to the bloody carnage of armed herdsmen in Benue communities and a deaf ear to the cries of their helpless victims.

Adding that Buhari must, as a matter of duty, urgently shift or share his focus from an “already defeated” Boko Haram to the rapidly growing menace of armed herdsmen killing helpless farmers and burning down their properties, it said this will be in fulfillment of the oath he took to protect one and all Nigerians from harm and injustice, without fear or favour.

The spokesman of the APC in Benue, Mr. Abba Yaro, also described the massive killing of over 50 people by the herdsmen as an invitation to civil war.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Yaro decried the recent killings as an attempt to spark a second civil war in Nigeria, insisting that it was a clear case of ethnic cleansing around the Benue valley, which must be stopped immediately.

While calling on Buhari to immediately call the herdsmen to order and direct the security agency to apprehend the killers, APC also called on all Benue sons and daughters, irrespective of party affiliations, to rise in defense of their communities.

 “This is above party politics, it is about human lives. How can you kill a pregnant woman and remove the unborn child and slaughter it? It is barbaric, unspeakable and generally unpalatable,” the APC statement read in part.

APC said the Anti-open Grazing Law in Benue was not targeted at any set of persons but for the general security of the state, a measure against cattle rustling and a solution for herders/farmers perennial clashes.

It maintained that its enforcement was ongoing and the state APC was in support of the governor and will not be deterred.

“The Anti-open Grazing Law has co

me to stay,” the state chapter of the ruling party maintained.

It also warned that if the herdsmen are not called to order by the relevant authorities and refuse to stop the ethnic cleansing, Benue people shall take the law into their hands in self-defense.

Eight Herdsmen Apprehended

Meanwhile, the police in Benue said Wednesday that they had arrested eight herdsmen over the deaths of 10 persons and seven livestock guards in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of the state on Monday.

The police public relations officer in the state, Moses Yamu, who made this known during a briefing in Makurdi, said: “Eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo, had been arrested in connection with the attacks.”

He added that the state police command had made additional deployments in the troubled areas to forestall further attacks and restore the confidence of the people.

Yamu stressed the situation in the two local government areas had been brought under control while investigations were ongoing.

He said: “They attacked Tomater village in Sengev council ward, Akor village in Nzorov council ward, and Bakin Kwata village in Umanger council ward of Guma LGA.

“Among those killed were seven members of Benue State Livestock Guards, their vehicle burnt and an uncertain number of persons injured in separate attacks between 31/12/2017 and 02/01/2018.

“Again, Agba-Uko near Azege village and Tse-Aga village of Logo LGA experienced the same fate, where one person was killed, one motorcycle burnt and four persons injured.

 “All the injured from both LGAs are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the state.”

According to him, five combined teams of riot and conventional policemen led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Emmanuel Adesina, had engaged the armed herdsmen in a gun duel in Guma.

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