13022021 - We'll retaliate - Fulani Association Chair

•Umar Labdo
Recently, Ondo state governor gave the
Fulani herdsmen ultimatum to vacate
the state forest reserves, how will you
react to it?
I have said it several times and I will say it
again that the quit notice is wrong, it is illegal
and it is not good if there is going to be peaceful
co-existence of members of one federation.
There are many southerners, including Yoruba
living in the north, in my own state, in my
town, doing their own business in peace,
making their own livelihood and no one is
asking them to vacate. Moreover, there are
criminals in all the tribes. Yahoo boys are
mainly Yoruba, drug pushers are mainly Igbo,
now if for the sake of argument, banditry or
kidnapping is found mainly among the Fulani,
that doesn’t mean that all the Fulani are
criminals. Generalizing and stereotyping all
Fulani is very wrong, it is dangerous because
the leaders in the south are indirectly telling
their people or followers to attack Fulani. And
naturally, when they attack the Fulani, they
will have to defend themselves which will lead
to chaos.
If there are criminals among the Fulani, they
should be dealt with according to the law. We
have law enforcement agents, it is their job to
fish out criminals, prosecute them and punish
them so that the society will be healthy. But
just because crimes are committed at your
backyard, you then lose all sense of reasoning
and start casting aspersions on people like
that.. That is not helpful at all.
You rightly pointed out that there are bad
eggs among every tribe including the Fulani,
as an association, have you ever taken any
step to fish out the bad ones and what was
done to them?
We tried to counsel our people or advise
them. We interact, enlighten them and make
them understand that times have changed and
they should come out of the bush and engage
in ranching. They can not continue moving
around as it was 50 or 100 years ago. We let
them know that they are Nigerians who have
helped in the development of Nigeria’s
economy. We told them you people are being
cheated because your children don’t go to
school, you don’t drink potable water, no
electricity, and you don’t enjoy amenities
provided by government. And so, it is to your
own detriment if you continue living in the
bush. Come out, let the government help you
settle down. And we believe the RUGA
Programme of the Federal government
should be implemented. That was what we
told them.
But fishing out criminals among them is
not our job. If we see criminals, we will run
away. How can we fish out criminals? But we
cautioned them not to mingle with criminals
or harbour them, if they do that, they are
inviting trouble to themselves. If they see
criminals, they should report them.
These people you see in the bush are normal,
rational human beings, they are not poor, they
We’ll retaliate
if herders are
banned from
south
—Fulani
association
• Conspiracy, competition, politics responsible for crisis
• FG should muster political will to stop this madness
• Southern Nigeria is depopulated; RUGA must be revisited
for lasting peace
are going with their own wealth. Those cows
you see are worth millions, so even Fulani you
see in the bush don’t welcome criminality. If it
is somebody sitting idle, unemployed or very
poor, maybe that one will be tempted to
commit crime but not somebody who is
pursuing a very noble profession, herding
livestock inherited from his forefathers for
centuries. Fulani are very proud about herding
cattle, and to those who are living in the bush,
they are living normal lives. But to us who are
educated and living in the cities, we know
certainly, that way of life is outdated and they
should be reintegrated into the society so that
they will benefit from the social amenities
provided by government and the society too
will benefit from them.
Do you think Fulani herdsmen were
profiled as criminals because they still
believe in this old way of life by living in the
forest?
50 years ago, they were living in the bush
but no one called them criminals. In the 60’s,
and even before then, the colonial government
recognized the Fulani as great contributors
to the economic development of Nigeria. That
was why you saw their images in the Nigeria’s
pound inherited by the naira. Look at the naira,
you will see pictures of cows in the naira. Go
to the old postage stamps issued by the colonial
authorities you had pictures of the Fulani and
cows. So everybody knows that Fulani are not
criminals. 50 years ago, no one called Fulani
criminals. All those who lived with the Fulani
in Central, Western and Eastern Nigeria were
praising them. It is only now, due to
combinations of factors that we found
ourselves in this situation.
What are those factors and why?
First, there are a lot of politics in it. For
example, Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who is
a senior lawyer (SAN), was issuing a statement
that he knew was contrary to our Constitution.
He wanted to be a hero of his people, playing
to the gallery. He knew that his people were
angry with the Fulani because certain criminal
elements among them were causing damage
to their farms so he wanted to gain cheap
popularity. How can you say Nigerians should
leave your state or leave your region? What
about your people living in other people’s
regions? Our region is bigger than the whole
of Southern region, South-South, South-East,
South-West) put together. They are not up to
half of Northern Nigeria. So somebody now
tells us to go back home, you also go back
home. Your people are here, living peacefully
despite all the propaganda against us, the
northerners. Yes, we have banditry, kidnapping,
but some southerners prefer to live in the north.
There is one dangerous thing which I don’t
think the southerners have realized. Southern
Nigeria is actually depopulated. Thousands
By Bashir Bello, Kano
Professor Umar Labdo is the National Secretary of Fulani
Development Association of Nigeria, FULDAN and also Professor
of Islamic Political Thoughts at the Yusuf Maitama Sule University,
Kano. In this interview, he traces the origin of the herdsmen/
farmers crisis in the country and proffers solutions on how to have
peace in the land. Excerpts:
of southerners especially young men and
women migrate to the north because they find
opportunities and settle there. I have carried
out a private research as a university professor
and I found out that about 30 to 40 per cent of
all NYSC members who are posted to the
north never go back to their southern states of
origin. They settle here and no one is harassing
them. Sabon Gari in Kano was established
purposely for southerners, not for northerners.
Why did we establish that? It was even our
traditional authority during the native
authorities who established Sabon Gari. They
said this is for our guests who have relatively
different culture and customs, therefore, let
them live together, govern themselves, do their
worship and ceremonies without hindrance.
If we establish a whole
township for
southerners to live in
peace and they are
living in peace, why are
we being ejected from
the south?
But it was said that
the Fulani were only
asked to vacate the
forest reserves area
and not the south?
When you ask them
to move out of the forest
where do they carry out
the rearing of their
livestock , where do you
want them to go? The
cities or where? You are
indirectly telling them
to leave the south. Now,
what are the other
factors why the Fulani
found ourselves in this
situation? The second
factor is economic
reason. For example,
our population has
grown higher. In the
60’s, our population
was less than 50
million, now we are
over 200 million, so
there is competition for land. Originally,
Fulani have their own cattle routes which were
designed and gazetted by colonial
governments. The grazing routes were for
Fulani and those who have interest in herding
animals. At that time, there was enough land
and no one encroached on those routes and
Fulani could pass without destroying
farmlands. Now, individuals, companies and
even the government have conspired to take
over those routes. Buildings are now being
erected on those routes making it difficult for
the Fulani to find enough routes to pass and
so the animals go astray and encroach on
SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 13, 2021—11
If there are criminals
among the Fulani, they
should be dealt with
according to the law. We
have law enforcement
agents, it is their job to
fish out criminals,
prosecute them and
punish them so that the
society will be healthy
farmers’ lands. Even before, the crisis used to
occur, but not on the large scale as we are
witnessing today.
So, I think what government at all levels
should do is to look into the situation as a
matter of urgency. We, the Fulani are not happy
that our people are going about. This is not
life, it used to be but no more. We want them to
settle down, we want our children to go to
school, we want them to enjoy life and social
amenities. And by doing that, even their cows
will be healthier and will produce more milk
and meat when they are settled. So, we want
government to help Fulani settle. They are
citizens, they are not empty handed, they are
people with enormous wealth, their wealth
are on four legs (cows). No one can claim that
they don’t eat cows and even cow legs. If these
people settle down and can provide feeds,
adequate water for their animals and their
children are enrolled in schools, with health
facilities, decent housing and electricity, it is
for the betterment of Nigeria and there will be
peace.
I don’t have to tell you the contributions of
Fulani to Nigeria’s political development and
other sectors. They are in politics and doing
well. So why should some people look down
on the Fulani as if they are not human beings?
And why is it that other crimes that are
identified with other tribes are not stereotyped?
We read on a daily basis and watch the
television about Yahoo boys and drug abuse.
We had cases of some Igbo who stole our
children especially in Kano and selling them
like goats. Hundreds of stolen children have
been traced to south eastern states and all the
people associated with the atrocities have been
apprehended. But we never called Igbo
criminals because we know it is not all Igbo
who were involved as we see other Igbo in the
market doing well in business. We don’t need
to cast aspersions on others in order to gain
political advantages. This is very bad.
When you said you are not happy that your
people are moving about, does it mean you
back the call by Governor Ganduje to ban
movement of herdsmen from north to south?
No, I don’t support Ganduje’s call that
herders or cattle rearers should be banned from
going to the south. If Governor Ganduje or
other Nigerians suggest that the Fulani should
be settled wherever they want, that will be
acceptable. But if you say you want to ban
them from going to the southern Nigeria, then
we have to ban others from coming to the
north also. This is justice and fairness. I replied
Governor Ganduje that what he said was
wrong and unconstitutional. You don’t talk of
banning people in their own country of birth.
If Nigeria is divided, then we can obtain
passport before going to the south and they
will also obtain passport and before coming
here in the north.
Do you support RUGA settlement for
Fulani herdsmen?
Yes, I support RUGA wholeheartedly. I
support all other programmes that will enable
Fulani to settle in one place, with their way of
life being taken care of. And they should be
treated like human beings and like Nigerians.
They have the right to be assisted with funds,
ideas and security like other Nigerians. If you
give help to people who engage in fishing,
poultry and mining, why not people who
engage in cattle rearing and livestock
management. If Fulani are settled it is an
investment and in the long run, people will
see the result. But trying to send them away is
not a wise decision and it is a dangerous way
to address the matter.
With the situation at hand,
what is the way forward
before it escalate?
It is for the Federal
government to step in. The
responsibility of security of
the citizens rests with the
President. So the President
should act and act decisively.
And he should not be
intimidated by those saying
he is pampering the Fulani.
They are citizens, if they need
pampering, they should be
pampered.
He should talk to the
governors and he should
hold the governors
responsible for whatever
happens to the Fulani
because a governor cannot
make this irresponsible call
for people or Nigerians to
leave his state. I know that
the presidency has called
them to order but that is not
enough. The presidency
should take this very seriously
before it lead to a state of
chaos in Nigeria. What do
you think will happen if it
leads to reprisal attacks in
other parts of the country? It can hardly be
controlled and who will be blamed?
The Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole
Soyinka was also quoted to have said that if
the situation is not handled properly, it can
lead to another civil war in the country. Do
you ascribe to that?
That is true, all rational thinking people
know that this is a serious situation which
should not be treated with levity. And the
responsibility rests on the Federal government
to have the political will to put a stop to this
madness otherwise it will lead us to hell.