Fulani Disloyalty And The Fallacy Of ‘‘One Nigeria’’

 Fulani Disloyalty And The Fallacy Of ‘‘One Nigeria’’

Here is the greatest riddle: the minority nomadic Fulanis are more zealous about ‘one Nigeria’ than the majority indigenous communities'. ‘One Nigeria’ sounds seductive but it's violent undertone linked to the Fulani Islamic extremists who are determined to turning Nigeria into a caliphate, is a rude awakening. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had said that the most consequential political imprint is that the indigenous communities now show no desire to have ‘one Nigeria’ foisted on them. 

‘One Nigeria’ is instrumental in handing over the reins of power to the historically wandering Fulani community of Africa. Underneath their mantra of ‘indivisibility’, is the Fulani’s unrelenting quest for domination. Professor Akintoye (a prominent Yoruba Nation agitator), remarked: The Fulani youths are brainwashed into believing that Nigeria belongs exclusively to them. Under this guise of unity, Fulani Islamists have completely hijacked the government. 

Regarding loyalty, and credibility problems, the nomadic Fulanis calling for unity are the worst culprits. Their pathological loyalty towards their own tribe confirms that ‘one Nigeria’ is a sham. Of course, fondness for one’s ethnic group is common to all tribes. Unlike the wandering Fulani tribe, the indigenous communities in Nigeria have the most enlightened self-interest in pursuing peaceful co-existence but the Fulani’s true allegiance lies elsewhere. Certain East African countries’ vain attempts to resettle nomads, further reveal that the Fulanis are more suited to stateless political economy. 

Having no loyalty towards Nigeria, the Fulanis are never genuinely interested in their host communities’ security. President Buhari – himself, a Fulani, is an exemplar. His allegiance to his kinsfolk straddling the Nigeria-Niger border is both brazen and deeper. He unapologetically financed the two billion dollars railway line to Niger republic using Nigeria’s money. No wonder, the Niger government honoured him with the highest title there is. The travesty of such disloyalty is displayed in the one-sided ill-treatment of those asking for self-determination through referendum. Those youths abducted from South-East Nigeria and sent across the border to Niger, most highlights the scandal. Five of them died in detention.

Democracy can never take root in Nigeria because of Fulani’s ruthless manipulative control of power. Among the earliest warning signs of their conqueror’s mindset, is Amadu Bello’s twisted outlook: “This New Nation called Nigeria, should be an estate of our great grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South, as conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us, and never allow them to have control over their future”. Given that Bello’s rule-book was laid down in 1961, the glory days of regional government, restructuring Nigeria is an ever more fanciful idea. 

The Fulanis head all the key positions of power! Their kinsfolks always stand ready to ritually shoot down calls for accountability. Islamists gunned down a jet fighter, including thirteen police officers in Zamfara State. Yet, the National Broadcasting Agency issued a sickening instruction to journalists to actively downplay the terrorism ravaging the north. Without proper vetting, the forces recruited ‘repentant’ Boko Haram fighters into their various formations. 

The video that went viral on the social media about soldiers destroying crops of farmers who chased out Fulani herdsmen from their farms, only confirms that Nigeria security forces are quick to take sides with the menacing herders. No attempt was made to investigate why the farmer had chased the herders away. That impunity skewed towards these herders is seen in Buhari’s blank refusal to declare Myetti Allah (the herders’ umbrella body), a terrorist group as they were quick to declare the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), terrorists even without perpetrating any violence, despite Fulani herdsmen being the fourth most deadliest terror group on the global index.

Inward-looking, Fulanis are no master tacticians. By exhibiting the blindest ethnic loyalty, they have wasted the opportunity that the Fulani-Hausa alliance once provided. The Hausas (whose forefathers’ hospitality provided the Fulanis, the political foothold in Nigeria), are the worst victims of the Fulani jihadi insurrectionists. Realising that Fulani rides on the Hausas’ coattails to hijack political power, the Hausas are reluctant to play political ball with them. 

Even the religious affinity between Hausa and Fulani has severely waned. The Fulani prefer the extremists’ versions of Islam (Wahabism and Salafism) that approves the killing of both Christians and Muslims standing in their way to Nigeria caliphate. This is where the indigenous Muslims part ways with the Fulanis. The tension has sparked off decades of bloodbaths in mostly the Sharia law run staindex.

Fulani lack appetite for diplomatic niceties needed to build a viable state to accommodate disparate indigenous communities. Their willingness to use violence under the guise of preserving ‘one Nigeria’ is well-documented. Their penchant for violence is the reason twitter deleted President Buhari’s own violent tweet. More troubling, research shows nomads thrive in failing states. Thus, the fear of Nigeria becoming a collapsed state does not trouble this Fulani-led regime, nonetheless. 

Written by G.E. Anukwe

Edited by Chukwuemeka Okechukwu

For Family Writers Press International