Following the statement credited to the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, for defending the right of herders to go about with AK 47, reactions have continued to trail his comment with some Nigerians describing the governor as an irresponsible leader.
The Lead Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church International, Ogun State, Apostle Lawrence Achudume said the Bauchi State Governor lacks deep knowledge of free use of arms.
Achudume expressed shock that a governor who took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution of the country, now takes the lead in violating provisions of the same constitution by calling for lawlessness.
He said probably all Nigerians should have AK47 for self defence or does he think a section of the nation has monopoly for self defence?
“There are many unlearned, educated illiterates in government, Nigerians should look well to vote in any election, not following party slogans to look for intelligent, 21st century compliant leaders who will take the nation to the next level.
“It’s a smack of common sense, it was the least expected of a citizen of Nigeria at such a time of national security crisis. To justify any unauthorised persons carrying AK47 rifles calls for those aiming to occupy such offices to go for psychiatric tests first, it is shameful for a sitting governor to say so, he concluded.
Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, the Labour Party Chairman in Ogun State who spoke to our Correspondent disclosed that the Governor in saying his opinion didn’t do so as a responsible leader. Why? Because the very uneducated manner he presented his justification of the rifle – bearing by the Fulanis is capable of unintentionally promoting banditry in the country.
“It is very reckless coming from a State Governor. My own opinion as a political leader being the chairman of all political parties in Ogun under IPAC is that all hands should be on deck to find an acceptable modern method of rearing cattle in the nation as so many states have now bought into this idea and soon it will become the only way of rearing cattle away from the traditional immigrant method.
“This issue demands that the genesis of whatever made the Fulanis abandon the use of sticks in herding their cattle in the first place. It is a tradition and to have the farmers / herders feud in the past that never led to homicides. Again, did kidnapping come to be part of the equation?
“It has been said severally that the Fulanis have in the past been regularly dispossessed by cow rustlers who did this under the threat of AK – 47 rifles, as a result , it was said that the Fulanis sought and got help from their kinsmen from the war – torn neighbouring nations where AK – 47 rifles are common place.
“Having said this, it must be noted that somehow, probably the acquired Fulanis with guns who have been accustomed to killings and kidnappings set up their operations under the guise of defending the cattle rearers from the cattle rustlers. Again , evidences have been found of Igbo , Yoruba and many other tribes of being part of all the criminalities including farmer – killings and kidnappings.”
Comrade, Oginni Olaposi Sunday, Chairman, New Nigeria People’s Party in Ogun State said Gov. Bala comment was very reckless and inciting, adding that the governor must be investigated most especially on the activities of these Fulani herders.
According to the Senior Pastor, Peace and Love International Church, Ogun State, Prof. David Bamgbose described the Bauchi governor’s statement as inciting and dangerous.
The clergyman fumed at the way and manner the Federal Government is treating the herders with kid gloves, alleging that, the Fulani leaders in government are those encouraging their kinsmen to take laws into their hands by kidnapping, murdering, raping and others.
“Gov. Bala Mohammed is myopic in his views. The other time he said a Fulani need no visa to enter Nigeria and is not bounded by boundaries. Let them go and try illegal occupation and entry in some countries in West Africa, in Ghana, Cameroon etc, his comments.
“To justify the carrying of illegal arms by Fulanis is reckless and dangerous, he is advocating that it is right for people to take arms to defend themselves if government is not doing this and it is obvious that this government has failed in this fundamental constitutional responsibility of governance.
“Of course, what is good for goose is good for gander, and it is now obvious that it is the Fulanis in government that are encouraging their kinsmen to take laws into their hands and this is why no Fulani has been convicted for crimes of kidnapping, murder, raping because of obvious connivance in high places.”
