Terrorism is the word for a new wave of attacks launched by killer herdsmen all over Nigeria but most prominently in the Middle Belt, South East and South West axis. While all eyes are on the Fulani, a prominent Fulani, the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar the Third, is leading the crusade to tackle the aggression headlong.
In a country where politicians have used the divisive weapon of ethnicity to heat up the polity and cause avoidable bloodletting, the Sultan has shown that he is not only a man of peace but a man of honour as well.
In September, Sultan Abubakar, came out boldly to state that the herdsmen plundering villages and highways were not of Nigerian background. He urged the military to step in and flush out the marauders. He said: “They are therefore terrorists and should be treated as such by Nigerian security agencies.
The Nigerian herdsmen are very peace-loving and law abiding people.” Coming from the most powerful Fulani leader in the country, that bold move made a lot of sense. Many compatriots who believed that the killer herdsmen enjoyed the full support of some prominent Northerners, thought the muslim leader could have been economical with the truth.
Less than a month after that declaration, Sultan Abubakar came out stronger to attack the killers. Addressing a gathering of eminent Northerners in Kano, he said: “There are very terrible herdsmen who kill. But they are acting on their own. They are criminals and they must be treated as criminals.
Therefore, the Federal Government should prosecute them.” Sultan Abubakar did not spare the terrorists. “ It is disheartening to hear people say Fulani herdsmen want to islamise Nigeria and that is why they are killing. Any Fulani herdsman who kills is not acting the script of the Fulani community in Nigeria, neither is he working for the muslim community,” he added.
What the leader of the Sokoto Caliphate has done is commendable. He has challenged the military to get going. If the Defence Headquarters did not know that the country was under siege, it is now spelt out clearly. Foreign invaders are within us.
The Sultan is not one to berate his constituency. He served the Nigeria Army dutifully before ascending the throne of his ancestors in 2006, following the death in an air crash of his predecessor. It was because of that unfortunate incident that he left service.
For those who do not know his background, Sultan Abubakar belongs to Course 18 of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), which produced a Service Chief, in the person of Lt. General Azubuike Onyejirika. Another course mate, Col. Honest Stephen, who once served as Acting Military Administrator of Lagos State during the days of Buba Marwa, is also a First Class traditional ruler in Taraba State.
There is a bigger task for the Federal Government. The Sultan is all out for the prosecution of those who have invaded the country from outside our shores. While Abuja concentrates efforts on fighting and killing fellow Nigerians in the South-East who wear the toga of Independent Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB) and militants in the oil rich Niger Delta better known as Avengers, we are yet to see any military offensive against these terrorist herdsmen.
Leadership is about being bold and decisive. Sultan Abubakar has, indeed, shown that he is a strong leader and has the interest of this nation at heart. He is Fulani and the herdsmen are Fulani. This is the way forward. Some of our leaders are part of the problem. The Sultan has come out clear as part of the solution.
And we have to give him credit. Sultan Abubakar has red Fulani blood flowing in his veins. He is a descendant of the great Usman Dan Fodio who led a Jihad in 1804. Originally, they migrated from Futa Toro, in today’s Northern Senegal and belong to the Toronkawa clan.
It was through Dan Fodio that the Fulani began the conquest of Northern Nigeria. A Fulani could be Bororoje (Cattle Fulani) or Fulani Gidda (Town Fulani). From the Sultan’s intervention, it is now clear that he is not backing killers, who critics believe are out to continue from where Dan Fodio stopped. These strong words coming from this Very Important personality are fair enough. Our country needs fair minded leaders like him.
It should not come to some who understand the mind of the traditional ruler as a surprise. As a military officer, he was a FIFA graded referee. As the world soccer body preaches Fair Play, the Sultan has demonstrated that he is not far away from the people.
The Federal Government must lead the way. Killer herdsmen have invaded our land. We cannot sit idle. Time has come for President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful. Nigeria must declare total war on these terrorists who mingle with cattle to destroy our unity.
