Gunmen Atrocities in Nigeria: Urgency Facing FG

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OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

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Jul 15, 2019, 8:24:05 PM7/15/19
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GUNMEN ATROCITIES IN NIGERIA: OBASANJO, SOYINKA AND THE FALOLA INTERVIEW: AND WHAT HAS TRUMP AND BREXIT GOT TO DO WITH THESE:  THE URGENCY FACING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.



BY OLAYINKA AGBETUYI


I was primed to examine closely two striking features of the Falola interview with the Punch namely his views on how digital technology can help in reducing crime and the role of vigilantes in solving gun crime especially those  alleged to be involving Fulani herdsmen when the conversation veered toward what has often been referred to as Nigeria's porous borders.  Eureka!  It was then it dawned on me that in fact what was often described as porous borders was in fact a total absence of borders courtesy of ECOWAS protocols.  The problem of so called Fulani terrorist crimes then fell into clear bold relief.  But before I had the time to frame the response a tangentially related event, the murder of Barrister Olakunrin (Pa Fashoranti's daughter stole the lime light and has since refused to go away due to the linking of the atrocities to alleged Fulani herdsmen

Let me begin by saying my just retired kid brother narrowly missed suffering the fatal fate of the daughter of the Afenifere
supremo several times in the last thirty years since the dying days of the military through the two terms of President Obasanjo till his retirement.  No government has solved has  the problems of the Akure- Ore- Benin road which has perennially claimed the lives of commuters at the hands of armed highway robbers.  In those days not once was the name Fulani mentioned since they would have been laughed to scorn. ( and Toyin Adepoju with his Benin ancestry and connections  cannot pretend not to know that and my brother is married to a fabulous Benin woman) Now the phrase Fulani herdsmen is the convenient catch all phrase.  My brother would detail how armed robbers would follow him home lie him face down beyond the gates and rob him  that we were always thankful they at least did not rob him of his life; regrettably Mrs Olakunrin was not that fortunate.  We must also remember the notorious terror saga of Lawrence Anini with his disappearing escapades during the regime of Ibrahim Babangida of whom the dictator asked the IG, '  My friend, where is Anini?'

Now back to the Falola interview.  It was while going through the Falola interview and his response to ECOWAS that the reason for the current Nigerian crime crisis became clear to me:  ECOWAS!  I was then able to make the connection to BREXIT and Trumps wall against the Mexicans for which he was roundly vilified.

Lets face it: the time for the allure of the multi national mega state or borderless trading block i s now over.  It was championed as a counterpoint to the Soviet Union which itself was a counterpoint to the West and the colonies.  These megalopolese are not without security risks for the borderless metropolises they contain as UK discovered relative to the EU and on account of which it staged BREXIT, and for Donald Trump on account of which a Mexican  border wall brought him electoral victory.

The problem of physical security is compounded by economic security:  In view of the manner  in which immigrants waltz in and out of the UK adequate economic planning is put in jeopardy if you cannot accurately project for how many would be in or out in the short run so adequate resources could be set aside.  In the case of financial resources the European Social Fund could help with resources but what of physical space. The UK land mass ( particularly the capital seemingly bursting at its seams) cannot be infinitely elastic and expanded.

When Jibrin Ibrahim revealed the demographic statistics about a fortnight ago, what statistic sdid not show was how immigration from ECOWAS countries contributed to the bulge.  That seems to me to be the answer to the exponential increase both in southern ( Yoruba too have the influx of their kith and kin from Sierra Leone so it is not just the Fulani) and northern population.  All of these in no small measure contributed to the economic non- manageability for w.which this administration is myopically blamed.  Unlike the UK and the EU.  Nigeria did not have the resources for ECOWAS dream at uts inceptiin so the project should have been deferred till a time as Falklaxsuggested when the natiin has the technology to ascertain the number of people ckming in and goung out and to track their activities and this is where yhe problem of Fulani herds men come in.  Wither now the Federal Government. 

The urgent task before the Federal Government is to summon an emergency session of NASS where a resolution should be passed suspending the article of freedom of movement within the protocols until the country solves its security problems.

Second, from Jibrin Ibrahims statistics we have a fair idea how many  herdsmen are in the country. An immediate registration of ALL herdsmen must be undertaken to disarm whichever group is arming themselves and be put under immediate military escort as a prelude to disarming the whole populace.  This is a lot safer than the Falola option of arming regional vigilantes which is a recipe for interminable internecine wars among the ethnicities.

Herdsmen and other immigrants from ECOWAS region who are under five years in the country must be directed to immigration and be required to obtain visiting and working visas as the case may be which will continued to be processed and renewed until they secure Nigerian citizenship according to laid down guidelines.  With these urgent steps Nigeria will avoid imminent catastrophe and bloodletting that may follow if nothing is done to ameliorate the prevailing security situation.





OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

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Jul 15, 2019, 8:24:13 PM7/15/19
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From: OLAYINKA AGBETUYI
Sent: Tuesday 16 July, 00:34
Subject: Gunmen Atrocities in Nigeria: Urgency Facing FG
Cc: OLAYINKA AGBETUYI


EDITED


GUNMEN ATROCITIES IN NIGERIA: OBASANJO, SOYINKA AND THE FALOLA INTERVIEW: AND WHAT HAS TRUMP AND BREXIT GOT TO DO WITH THESE:  THE URGENCY FACING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.



BY OLAYINKA AGBETUYI


I was primed to examine closely two striking features of the Falola interview with the Punch namely his views on how digital technology can help in reducing crime and the role of vigilantes in solving gun crime especially those  alleged to be involving Fulani herdsmen when the conversation veered toward what has often been referred to as Nigeria's porous borders.  Eureka!  It was then it dawned on me that in fact what was often described as porous borders was in fact a total absence of borders courtesy of ECOWAS protocols.  The problem of so called Fulani terrorist crimes then fell into clear bold relief.  President Buhari's intelligence led attribution of 'herder atrocities' to foreigners then made a lot more sense.  But before I had the time to frame the response a tangentially related event, the murder of Barrister Olakunrin (Pa Fashoranti's daughter ) stole the lime light and has since refused to go away due to the linking of the atrocities to alleged Fulani herdsmen

Let me begin by saying my just retired kid brother narrowly missed suffering the fatal fate of the daughter of the Afenifere
supremo several times in the last thirty years since the dying days of the military through the two terms of President Obasanjo till his retirement.  No government has solved has  the problems of the Akure- Ore- Benin road which has perennially claimed the lives of commuters at the hands of armed highway robbers.  In those days not once was the name Fulani mentioned since they would have been laughed to scorn. ( and Toyin Adepoju with his Benin ancestry and connections  cannot pretend not to know that and my brother is married to a fabulous Benin woman) Now the phrase Fulani herdsmen is the convenient catch all phrase.  My brother would detail how armed robbers would follow him home lie him face down beyond the gates and rob him  that we were always thankful they at least did not rob him of his life; regrettably Mrs Olakunrin was not that fortunate.  We must also remember the notorious terror saga of Lawrence Anini with his disappearing escapades during the regime of Ibrahim Babangida of whom the dictator asked the IG, '  My friend, where is Anini?'

Now back to the Falola interview.  It was while going through the Falola interview and his response to ECOWAS that the reason for the current Nigerian crime crisis became clear to me:  ECOWAS!  I was then able to make the connection to BREXIT and Trumps wall against the Mexicans for which he was roundly vilified.

Lets face it: the time for the allure of the multi national mega state or borderless trading block i s now over.  It was championed as a counterpoint to the Soviet Union which itself was a counterpoint to the West and the colonies.  These megalopolese are not without security risks for the borderless metropolises they contain as UK discovered relative to the EU and on account of which it staged BREXIT, and for Donald Trump on account of which a Mexican  border wall brought him electoral victory.

The problem of physical security is compounded by economic security:  In view of the manner  in which immigrants waltz in and out of the UK adequate economic planning is put in jeopardy.  I you cannot accurately project for how many would be in or out in the short run it becomes difficult to ensure adequate resources are set aside.  In the case of financial resources the European Social Fund could help with resources but what of physical space? The UK land mass ( particularly the capital seemingly bursting at its seams) cannot be infinitely elastic and expanded.

When Jibrin Ibrahim revealed the demographic statistics about a fortnight ago, what statistic sdid not show was how immigration from ECOWAS countries contributed to the bulge.  That seems to me to be the answer to the exponential increase both in southern ( Yoruba too have the influx of their kith and kin from Sierra Leone so it is not just the Fulani) and northern population.  All of these in no small measure contributed to the economic non- manageability for .which this administration is myopically blamed.  Unlike the UK and the EU.  Nigeria did not have the resources for ECOWAS dream at its inception so the project should have been deferred till a time as Falola suggested when the nation has the technology to ascertain the number of people coming in and going out and to track their activities and this is where the problem of Fulani herds men come in.  Wither now the Federal Government? 

The urgent task before the Federal Government is to summon an emergency session of NASS where a resolution should be passed suspending the article of freedom of movement within the ECOWAS protocols until the country solves its security problems.

Second, from Jibrin Ibrahims statistics we have a fair idea how many  herdsmen are in the country. An immediate registration of ALL herdsmen must be undertaken to disarm whichever group is arming themselves and be put under immediate military escort as a prelude to disarming the whole Nigerian populace.  This is a lot safer than the Falola option of arming regional vigilantes which is a recipe for interminable internecine wars among the ethnicities.

Herdsmen and other immigrants from ECOWAS region who are under five years in the country must be directed to immigration and be required to obtain visiting and working visas as the case may be which will continue to be processed and renewed until they secure Nigerian citizenship according to laid down guidelines.  With these urgent steps Nigeria will avoid imminent catastrophe and bloodletting that may follow if nothing is done to ameliorate the prevailing security situation.





Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju

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Jul 16, 2019, 6:46:18 AM7/16/19
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What are the implications when this does not happen, as they are unlikely to happen?

Will  those eager to absolve Fulani herdsmen from terrorism pretend as if there are no implications to such vital steps not being taken?

"1. The urgent task before the Federal Government is to summon an emergency session of NASS where a resolution should be passed suspending the article of freedom of movement within the protocols until the country solves its security problems.

2. Second, from Jibrin Ibrahims statistics we have a fair idea how many  herdsmen are in the country. An immediate registration of ALL herdsmen must be undertaken to disarm whichever group is arming themselves and be put under immediate military escort as a prelude to disarming the whole populace.  This is a lot safer than the Falola option of arming regional vigilantes which is a recipe for interminable internecine wars among the ethnicities.

3. Herdsmen and other immigrants from ECOWAS region who are under five years in the country must be directed to immigration and be required to obtain visiting and working visas as the case may be which will continued to be processed and renewed until they secure Nigerian citizenship according to laid down guidelines.  With these urgent steps Nigeria will avoid imminent catastrophe and bloodletting that may follow if nothing is done to ameliorate the prevailing security situation."

Will the writer of this lofty vision speak up when this has not happened in the next six months to one year?

Will he examine the implications of its not happening?

Will he simply return to his old strategies of polemics when it does not happen?

Will he remain silent, counting on people's short memories within the swift flow of events, as he has done in the past, after making lofty recommendations far from the strategic visions of Nigeria's terrorist govt?

Will he be honest enough to examine his position and wonder what the motives are for not taking these strategic steps?

Are his  real interest is in the actualization of these visions?

I wait to be surprised.


Toyin

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OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

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Jul 16, 2019, 9:13:11 AM7/16/19
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Why do you say they are unlikely to happen?

It is plain common sense that Nigeria cannot carry the whole sub region on its back and work for its own economic success.  Its like pouring water in a basket.

Any political leader that does not think they should put their house in order first before playing ' big man' to the sub- region must be a total fool.

If immediate action is not taken its only a matter of time before people start devouring each other.  Nigeria will simply unravel due to over- extension as the Roman empire did.  Nigeria must learn the lessons of history.  There is no other choice.

The simple answer is that if the FG refuses to act on time civil society must be back to the barricades and remain unrelenting until government acts to save the country from collapse.

OAA



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.


-------- Original message --------
From: Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin....@gmail.com>
Date: 16/07/2019 11:51 (GMT+00:00)
To: usaafricadialogue <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Yoruba Affairs <yoruba...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Gunmen Atrocities in Nigeria:Urgency  Facing FG

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What are the implications when this does not happen, as they are unlikely to happen?

Will  those eager to absolve Fulani herdsmen from terrorism pretend as if there are no implications to such vital steps not being taken?

"1. The urgent task before the Federal Government is to summon an emergency session of NASS where a resolution should be passed suspending the article of freedom of movement within the protocols until the country solves its security problems.

2. Second, from Jibrin Ibrahims statistics we have a fair idea how many  herdsmen are in the country. An immediate registration of ALL herdsmen must be undertaken to disarm whichever group is arming themselves and be put under immediate military escort as a prelude to disarming the whole populace.  This is a lot safer than the Falola option of arming regional vigilantes which is a recipe for interminable internecine wars among the ethnicities.

3. Herdsmen and other immigrants from ECOWAS region who are under five years in the country must be directed to immigration and be required to obtain visiting and working visas as the case may be which will continued to be processed and renewed until they secure Nigerian citizenship according to laid down guidelines.  With these urgent steps Nigeria will avoid imminent catastrophe and bloodletting that may follow if nothing is done to ameliorate the prevailing security situation."

Will the writer of this lofty vision speak up when this has not happened in the next six months to one year?

Will he examine the implications of its not happening?

Will he simply return to his old strategies of polemics when it does not happen?

Will he remain silent, counting on people's short memories within the swift flow of events, as he has done in the past, after making lofty recommendations far from the strategic visions of Nigeria's terrorist govt?

Will he be honest enough to examine his position and wonder what the motives are for not taking these strategic steps?

Are his  real interest is in the actualization of these visions?

I wait to be surprised.


Toyin

On Tue, 16 Jul 2019 at 01:24, OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
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Uyilawa Usuanlele

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Jul 16, 2019, 2:52:10 PM7/16/19
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OOA,
         I lived most of my life in Benin City (except for brief periods of schooling in Ife and Zaria and work in Lagos) and night-crawled the city, which i still did two weeks ago . There were armed robberies, just like in many big cities of Southern Nigeria but not in the way you have tried to paint Benin City with the seeming fantabulous stories from your brother. I don't know why it is only Anini and Benin robberies that are remembered and Ishola Oyenusi, Abiodun Egunjobi (who mentored and) Isiaka Busari a.k.a. Mighty Joe, all of who terrorized Lagos in the 1960s and 70s and Shina Rambo menace (which i lived with) in the 1990s are so quickly forgotten. Anyway, if political leanings compel us to be blind as to exonerate the new wave of kidnappings and robberies perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen (of which i have been a victim on the Benin-Okenne highway between Okpella and Okenne-note that having schooled in the North i can differentiate Hausa, fulfude, igbira and Etsako languages), i am sure Jibrin Ibraham will corroborate the fact of Fulanis herdsmen involvement in armed highway robberies which he had written about in the past before they graduated to kidnapping and banditry. If you still think that all these herdsmen are foreigners you can find time to watch and read these confessions which are neither by Evans nor Anini who have become alibi for the failure of the ruling party and government.



Uyilawa

From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagb...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2019 8:17 PM

To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Cc: OLAYINKA AGBETUYI
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: Gunmen Atrocities in Nigeria: Urgency Facing FG
 
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Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju

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Jul 16, 2019, 2:52:19 PM7/16/19
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Lets keep watching.

Meanwhile, here is the latest from Buhari-

Every Country has Security Challenges, Buhari Replies Critics [ Guardian]

“Every country has security challenges, while we have made significant progress in fighting against terrorism, we acknowledge that there are new and emerging challenges of kidnapping and banditry,” Buhari said when he received executives of Buhari Campaign Organisation in Abuja.

“Those who politicize the isolated incidents of insecurity are not patriotic Nigerians. I am confident that this administration uses all the resources at its disposal to protect the lives of all Nigerians and not just prominent Nigerians but all."

segun ogungbemi

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Jul 17, 2019, 1:48:55 AM7/17/19
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Toyin,
Things don't work so quickly through the National Assembly and all the other processes to be taken which you have narrated as a permanent solution to the current insecurity in Nigeria. 
 Do you think the majority in the National Assembly will key into your suggestion? Let us assume for the sake of the merit of your argument that the National Assembly will give it a positive nod, 
for how long do you think it will take them to pass the Bill before it is passed on to President Buhari for his assent?  What if President Buhari, the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, does not give his assent to it? 
My take is this, in the interim,  the suggestion of Professor Toyin Falola is still the best for the immediate solution to stop the carnage of kidnappings, banditry, killings, maiming, rapings and ransom payments.
It seems to me, it is the most effective way because the traditional and modern vigilantes know their terrains better than any security outfits of the Federal government. 
Yes, the Federal government should put on hold the ECOWAS border agreement in the wake of deadly rampage of different violent religious insurgents in the West African Region. Nigeria should not be in a Regional alliance when her people are being killed and their properties destroyed by foreigners from the Region. 
Segun Ogungbemi. 

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OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

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Jul 17, 2019, 12:59:41 PM7/17/19
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Thank you!  The beleaguered President will expectedly protect his turf.  Chief Obasanjo is only echoing what the people are saying.  He is performing the role of an opposition party chieftain and this is how democracy works.  Awo also performed the same role against Shagari in the Second Republic.  I maintain the most important agenda is to take off the guns from the streets of Nigeria.

  I do not see how that can be done without securing Nigeria's borders through which guns are illegally brought in and I do not see how that can be done without Nigeria repudiating some of the principles of ECOWAS protocols.  This is beyond Buhari personally ( he is not a dictator).

The National Assembly has to empower him by passing requisite laws.  Luckily his party enjoys a clear majority to do this.  If the law makers do not know what to do then the President can not be blamed for that.  The President can only act within and enforce existing laws.

The difference between Obasanjo I (military) and Obasanjo II ( civilian) and the limited success of the latter can only be accounted for by this fact.

OAA



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.


-------- Original message --------
From: Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin....@gmail.com>
Date: 16/07/2019 19:55 (GMT+00:00)
To: usaafricadialogue <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Gunmen Atrocities in Nigeria:UrgencyFacing  FG

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Lets keep watching.

Meanwhile, here is the latest from Buhari-

Every Country has Security Challenges, Buhari Replies Critics [ Guardian]

“Every country has security challenges, while we have made significant progress in fighting against terrorism, we acknowledge that there are new and emerging challenges of kidnapping and banditry,” Buhari said when he received executives of Buhari Campaign Organisation in Abuja.

“Those who politicize the isolated incidents of insecurity are not patriotic Nigerians. I am confident that this administration uses all the resources at its disposal to protect the lives of all Nigerians and not just prominent Nigerians but all."

On Tue, 16 Jul 2019 at 14:13, OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagb...@hotmail.com> wrote:

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