By Josmat Jerry
‘When two elephants lock horns, the grasses suffers the most’— this portrays and gives a description on the effect of the hullabaloo that emerges from various deadly ‘mini-wars’ in this country. Over time, there have always been various clashes which erupt out from sub groups, where by their activities are somehow related in the sense that they cross almost the same part for survival; the militant adventure in Niger Delta, clash between the butchers and other traders, which goes back to the Nigeria Civil War crisis of 1967, ethnic religion crisis, to mention but a few. A nation termed, tagged and worshipped as the giant of Africa, the most populous country in Africa and one of the leading nation in African continent, should not be characterized with such phenomenon.
Considering the gifts of nature and abundant blessings the nation is endowed with, these mentioned crises occurred due to some deficiencies which seems to be never ending, over-powering and correctable only through a miracle. With this, the country has been envisioned as the opposite of itself. The terrorist attack of Boko haram which has claimed around 1% of her population is still there breathing underneath. Also, the most recent crisis between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers, has placed the state of the nation on a questionable status which is also being covered and veiled to seem as though all is well. This is an uprising issue that needs immediate correction before its dark hour runs in.
The driving factor of this can be traced down to the insufficient land the nation is battling with. The Land Use Decree implemented some years ago can be said to have greatly failed as regard to this land shortage. Land, being a free gift of nature can be termed to be an overstatement as applied to the so called ‘giant of Africa’. It is meant to be in abundant but due to some corrupt practices, it is now down to double zero. In the real sense, it is clear to say that this crisis is about the great pressure placed on farmers in the Northern part. They consistently complain on how Fulani herdsmen make their rearing eat up farm crops and produce.
Then, who is to blame? The Fulani herdsmen, the farmers or the government of the nation? Blames cannot be solely placed on a single unit, as each one of them has a share to part with in this. Most farmers have failed to abide and adhere to the stated rules and regulations enlisted in the Land Use Act. One tend to see a lot of mishandling of Land Use among these set of traders, portions of land being extended to the road side, siting a farm land in a high population and free going area, the issue of land fragmentation, all these performed by the farmers affect their farm land being threatened by the rearing of the Fulani herdsmen. The government, through their mismanagement in handling the regulation and control of Land Use is a major bullet that powers the gun which triggers this crisis. The inability and failure to enact and ensure effective implementation of the stated guidelines is a major concern.
Also, Fulani herdsmen happen to be an entity that infringes on other people’s livelihood and activities without any reproach or concern. There are other places they can direct their rearing to for their daily take in which will not disturb or cause a shortage for another party. Yet, they have failed to go in this direction. This has been a very destructive action by the Fulani herdsmen which has led to this point.
To be on a safe side, some measures need to be taken in order to put an end to this. First, there should be appropriate guidelines on the Land Use system. Second, the federal government should reshape and revamp the existing regulations and make it effective in accordance to ensuring proper implementation and execution. Lastly, an avenue where representatives of both parties (Fulani herdsmen and farmers) will come together and talk matters out which will usher in peace within and across the system. This will also ensure and guarantee peace in the Northern part of the country as well as the nation as a whole.
Unity and peace is a very significant key to any successful society. There are various ways activities can be executed to the fullest satisfaction with the absence of creating or making life hard for another person. It is not until a party disturbs or holds another from enjoying the sweet breath of life that there will be breathing space, we should all learn to live life (even to the fullest) without erasing others.
