Recently, some leaders visited the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai. The visit was part of the effort to stem violence in a part of the state. I took note that Rev. Yakubu Pam, head of the Pilgrims Commission, led a group. Pam isn’t from Kaduna State. This is instructive as most leaders from the state who can play sober and elderly role have remained out of sight.
It’s the best they could do in a situation where some adopt an acrimonious stance, shutting up every voice of reason in an issue that could have been better handled, locally. They talk and conduct themselves in such a manner that it has now become impossible for them to approach their state governor. I think this speaks to quality of leadership, and people from this part should be concerned. For I can’t understand some people’s approach which has compelled others who counsel reason to withdraw, in a situation where lives are being lost. Hallmark of good leadership is that leaders follow paths which ensure their people aren’t hurt unnecessarily. But we see what’s happening. (Any Nigerian who applauds as leaders adopt a quarrelsome approach as we see in this case contributes to this crisis that has led to the killing of our people in Kaduna State). Meanwhile, after their meeting, Pam said the state governor told him to consult with the peoples in the area concerned. Whatever they decide, he will implement. This comment from the Chief Security Officer says much than I have the space to explain, but I shall return to this point.
Back in 2002. I was in the office. There was this loud noise from outside, indicating a road accident. I looked out the window. People had gathered. A bus driver hit a motorcyclist. The driver didn’t stop. But the motorcyclist was down on the side of the road. People around him were shouting that he might die. I turned back to my work. Almost ten minutes passed. Noise from outside indicated no action had been taken.
I got up, walked calmly down the stairs, and calmly across the premises. I got to the road where there were several people; but none provided solution. I wanted to provide solution. It’s what I think of once there’s a crisis. I went straight to the man on the ground. He was unconscious and he had a deep gash under his armpit. I asked someone to join me. There was a clinic a few blocks away. We carried the accident victim there. I discussed with the nurses, ensured the victim regained consciousness, then I returned to my office. That incident summarises my approach in a crisis situation. The more people around me are hysterical, the more I become conscious that somebody needs to be clear-headed. When I see anyone exhibit this in crisis, young or old, they earn my respect. Being hysterical and unyielding don’t solve problems. Being clear-headed and reasonable, even in crisis, do. I expect leaders to remain clear-minded when everyone around them adopts an approach that can’t lead to resolution in a crisis. What I see instead in the Kaduna case are some who cultivate journalists basically to throw accusations. Meanwhile, people are dying.
The regular reader of this page knows my view on crises spurred by the farmer-herder situation in parts of the country. I’ve stated that effort to use the criminality of a few to demonize any ethnic group isn’t right. If anyone engages in criminal act, they should be singled out and punished. Now, the matter of herder-kills-farmer has disintegrated into efforts involving jungle justice in this particular part of the country, leading to escalation of the crisis. Some ignore this fact. Two years ago when I referenced reprisals in the crisis, someone wrote: “Thunder fire you, it is the Fulani who are killing our people.” On another occasion, someone wrote: “This guy is mad.” It must be madness for a journalist to state it as it is when fellow journalists pretend reprisals aren’t happening. Has anyone wondered why killings are curbed in other places where farmer-herder issues occur, but in this part killings continually happen? Lately, the Nigerian Army repeated what I had always stated. Following the recent killings, the army Commander in the Kaduna crisis, Major General Chukwuemeka Okwonko, said communities were attacking one another as reprisal for previous killings. At the same time, a Kaduna State lawmaker said that in his constituency communities were “warring” against one another.
While Okwonko was addressing the press after the latest killings, a journalist asked him which two sides in the area he said were attacking each other. Okwonko mentioned the tribes involved. I wasn’t surprised the question was asked. Some journalists might not know reprisals happened, and those who knew were too emotionally attached to tribe and religion to report things as they really were. In the event, a narrative of conspiracy and persecution prevailed in the media. That, in a situation when the practical thing is to soberly search for local solutions as other communities with farmer-herder issues across Nigeria have done.
I had also stated that the effort to ignore and disdainfully address the state’s Chief Security Officer would not lead anywhere good. Some left the state and went to the Unity Fountain in Abuja the other time, saying they came to complain about killings in their area to lawmakers. I stated then that ignoring their state governor wasn’t a practical approach. If that approach worked, we see the evidence in the recent killings. Lately, I stated that the media blitz, mainly targeted at garnering sympathy for one side while promoting hate against the other side in the crisis, wouldn’t lead anywhere. Tit-for-tat is going on. If anyone continues to deny this, they are insincere meaning they aren’t ready for peace yet.
One would assume that when matters come to a point like this, real solution is the next thing well-meaning people would be searching for. But what I see is a lot of campaign, travelling abroad even to make some British MPs say members of a religion are being persecuted. Does that bring solution on ground? The other day the Kaduna State governor called on elected lawmakers and traditional leaders from that part to embrace diversity. He has his reasons. Meanwhile, my hometown has people from different parts of Nigeria thriving in it. If any community says fellow Nigerians should be pushed out of theirs, that community has lost me. For people must have issues. Members of the same tribe and religion have issues. But when it happens, finding amicable settlement is the reasonable thing to do, and on reasonable terms, not on terms which see some insisting Nigerians shouldn’t live in a part of the country.
I stated earlier how I approach crisis situation. There are persons whose approach to the current crisis baffles me. I expect their focus would be on finding lasting local solution. What I see is a lot of advocacy. The challenge is that their advocacy puts one side of the story in the media, to foreign NGOs, and to some foreign parliamentarians. Has this stopped the killings going on? Many underlying issues have served to complicate the initial farmer-herder crisis in this part. They were there before the current administration arrived office. The day after tomorrow these issues will still be there. In that case, soberly addressing those lingering issues among the locals ought to be the priority of everyone. Rather than a situation where some acrimoniously confront their government and seek foreign sympathy. If anyone involved in this misses that point, in a situation where people are dying needlessly, one can only wish them luck with their problem.
Now the state governor has said if the people concerned agree on anything, he’s prepared to assist them follow it through. This is where Pam and other voices of reason like him are relevant. But he has a tough job. Why? Some have acrimoniously dismissed the voice of reason of other leaders who suggest a cooperative rather than a confrontational approach in this crisis. The same group might put up resistance. I reckon the state governor realises this and it’s the reason he has asked this latest arbitrator to go and try his luck. I wish Pam success.
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