The first reason why the farmer-herdsmen conflict in Nigeria is consistently making national headlines is partially because of the Agatu “massacre” and/or “retaliation” (depending on how you want to see it). The second reason is a misconception linking the increased violence to the presidency of a Muslim Fulani herdsman attempting to Islamize Nigeria. If you believe the latter, then you have a special case of acute malaria, as such, my chloroquine prescription here will be of little help to you (so, you can stop reading here). If you believe in the former, I will urge you to continue reading this piece with an open mind.
We have eyes in the front of our heads, not the back, so, in conflict resolution, it is important to keep looking forward. I will however make an exception here by looking backwards, because we need to understand how and why failure of leadership and responsibility has continued to haunt us as a nation. I will therefore start this ‘peace mission’ by pointing out how David Mark could have prevented the Agatu “massacre” and/or “retaliation”.
When on April 20, 2013, the Agatu People and Fulani Herdsmen had some dispute that lead to the killing of some prominent leaders of Fulani community, the police and the State government simply failed to act to resolve the dispute. The tension generated by these killings was so significant that the National Secretary of Gan Allah Fulani Association, claimed that the Sultan of Sokoto visited Benue State three times in an attempt to find a solution but that David Mark, in whose community the killings happened, turned his back on an opportunity for peace and reconciliation. David Mark balked and failed to use his leadership capital wisely. His inaction when faced with a challenge on a conflict at his backyard was a clear case of failure of leadership.
So, a simple misunderstanding that should have been resolved spanned out of control. The result of this inaction was the February 2016, madness in Agatu in what some now call ‘massacre’ but what the herdsmen see as ‘retaliation’. You are still free at this point to choose which side to align yourself.
My main point here is that David Mark had an excellent opportunity as the Senate President then to intervene early in that dispute and provide for the de-escalation of a conflict right in his Agatu community. With the enormous power he was wielding then, a 'compassionate' President in Jonathan and Sultan of Sokoto’s involvement (interest), the latest 2016 episode in Agatu could have been avoided and David Mark’s crocodile tears saved for the day the prison doors will be opened for his grand entrance. As it’s not my intent to bitch and moan (like most Nigerians are doing now), I will refocus my lens forward on possible solutions.
One of the keys to success in conflict management is in finding a forward-looking solution, an option that gives everyone a path to get out of a conflict. The recent escalation of the farmer-herdsmen conflict has pulled us all as a country to the edge of the cliff. To make progress, from the edge of this cliff, the sensible thing to do is to step backward (those who feel like jumping should please themselves). I will be blunt going forward, so, if you choose to stay with me, unclench your fist so that we can have a proper handshake at the end of this piece.
If it has ever crossed your mind that part of the solution to the herdsmen-farmer conflict in Nigeria will warrant rounding up these herdsmen and sending them back to the drought prone semi-arid regions in the north, then, you belong to the same mental home with Donald Trump. For those dubiously asking why men must die that cattle may live, here are the things we should do so that both men and cattle should live. Part of what David Mark should have done (and what we must all start working on now) was to see that a modern comprehensive bill that will address the concern of all parties was passed into law.
For the records, the conflict between Fulani Herdsmen and communities/local farmers in Nigeria and entire West African region has been a recurring issue for decades. It did not start because Buhari became president, but we can make it stop under Buhari’s presidency. We will not stop it by displaying our BMW – bitching, moaning and whining. It will only stop when we articulate a realistic and practical solution, and force the crooks at the National Assembly to pass our resolution into law and Mr. President to see to its urgent implementation.
One such reasonable solution that has been thrown out there by Afenifere is the recommendation in the botched 2014 National Conference for the scraping of the Grazing Route and the establishment of ranches. As a working definition, I note that a ranch is a type of farm and an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat. So, if we all agree that ranches are the way to go, we have to also tell ourselves some truth and put an element of human face in any solution. And such element must include provision of land for the ranches and amenities to raise these livestock in all parts of Nigeria including Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria.
So, whoever is genuinely interested in a realistic solution can start with the recommendation of the 2014 National Conference for instance. They should lobby for it to be extracted and presented as a bill in the National Assembly by a group of senators and members of the House committed to minimizing the herdsmen-farmer conflict. The bill should then be subjected to open debate, inputs and modified in order to come up with a fairly acceptable document.
Whatever bill is finally passed should have a provision protecting the indigenous owners of land at the same time ensuring that the herdsmen have some arable lands on which to raise their castles. Such lands should not be forcefully taken from the farmers. There should also be a provision mandating the State government in collaboration with federal and local communities to provide such lands without forcefully taking them from local farmers. If the local community sees the need to make money by lending or selling community land to the herdsmen; if an individual sees an opportunity to sell his private land to the rancher in order to sort some private maters out, why not encourage them?
When telecommunication operators were expanding their network infrastructures, many Nigerians made millions selling lands for the installations of masts. Why can’t State governments that are struggling to pay minimum wage start generating revenue from these ranches? The States and Federal Government should thus in collaboration with local communities provide these ranches close to what used to be the grazing tracks. That’s how to build trust by not only focusing on our interest alone, but also in the interest of others.
But to call for the “killing of any bill on grassing” without providing a clear and workable alternative is whining. To characterize any bill as “evil” without putting forward an alternative in whatever form that will minimize these conflicts and save lives is bitching. Also, the argument that government should not provide amenities like water and roads for these ranches simply because the castles are owned by millionaires is completely flawed.
One of the responsibilities of government is to provide amenities for the improvement of the lives and businesses of its citizens. That Nigerians have not been demanding for that does not mean it’s not our right. Moreover, we have spent billions rehabilitating Niger Delta militants in order to save our oil pipelines. Also, several State governments have spent billions building markets and relocating markets to provide a conducive environment for trading. They then recoup their investment be selling the shops as well as taxing the occupants (Lagos and Anambra States are good examples).
Finally, the ultimate goal of handling conflict is resolution and resolution of conflicts is not attained by moaning, not by whining and definitely not by bitching. So, as we continue to articulate a realistic solution to this conflict, we shouldn’t therefore close our minds to these my Fulani Herdsmen friends. We should also avoid throwing ashes at one another because ashes fly back into the face of him who throws them.
Churchill Okonkwo, Ph.D.
You can email Churchill at [email protected] or follow on Twitter @churchillnnobi