America and the parable of a now-disgraced country (III)

BY HASSAN GIMBA

We have seen how America behaves when it sets its sights on invading a country. All the indices regarding Nigeria point in that direction. Its President has set the ball rolling, and we can already see how the chips are falling into place. Nigeria and South Africa are on his radar, but first things first—Nigeria is the easier prey. South Africa has proved to be a more formidable global player, so they are handling it with caution.

But just as our ancestors had ways of warding off the evil eye, our leaders, too, must find ways to deflect the looming dangers posed by the actions Donald Trump intends to take, for these Americans can be nasty when they choose to be.

Remember, America once whisked hundreds of innocent people to Guantanamo Bay, and no one asked why. They act with arrogance and impunity. They have toppled governments, “expired” leaders, and jailed others, with the world barely raising an eyebrow. Do you think anything will happen if they come here, pick up some of our leaders, and take them to an American prison to cool their heels in some gulag?

Our leaders must know that Trump is not concerned about genocide; it is just a red herring meant to divert attention from real reasons. If it were all about genocide, look at Israel, indicted by the United Nations and its investigating committees, by both the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and scores of reputable international bodies for committing genocide. Yet, America continues to assist the country diplomatically, financially and militarily.

Still, there are measures our governments—federal and state—can take to deflect the ominous clouds gathering in the land of the Yankees and drifting towards us. Our leaders must sit up and take governance seriously. Security is number one, but the way the government is taxing people in poverty and businesses already on the brink is itself a security threat.

Small and medium-scale businesses take people off the streets and shrink the recruitment pools of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, insurgents, Boko Haram, and all manner of criminals. When these businesses are taxed out of business, the nation is left with people who must survive by hook or crook. It is a dangerous situation.

In the last edition, we noted that General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s government “started what it christened nomadic education. Under it, many factors could change the way the Fulani live. But because most of our leaders were, and are, short-sighted and prioritise lining their pockets, they never took that programme seriously. Now, with all the money they have sliced for themselves, those who should have been empowered with skills and knowledge yesterday will not allow them to enjoy it today.”

We rhetorically asked: “Do you know that most of the Fulani terrorising Nigeria now could have long been engineers, medical doctors, professors, big dairy and meat factory owners, etc.?”

While using the armed forces to shut out the undesirable elements wreaking havoc on us, we must also take necessary complementary measures.

One such measure is ending open grazing. The National Economic Council—comprising the vice president, 36 state governors, the minister of finance, and the central bank governor—resolved on April 27, 2018, to ban open grazing and adopt the Federal Government’s Livestock Transformation Plan. Three years later, on February 9, 2021, the Northern Governors’ Forum banned open grazing across Northern Nigeria. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum followed on February 11, 2021, prohibiting it in all 36 states. Not to be left behind, the Southern Governors’ Forum banned open grazing in all 17 southern states on May 14, 2021, and on May 18, the PDP Governors’ Forum endorsed the ban nationwide.

One is left wondering why open grazing remains so widespread. In Abuja, cattle and sheep roam freely—even in the Three Arms Zone!

Apart from being a major source of conflict, leading to deaths and destruction, open grazing is economically wasteful. The flock suffers, and the herder gains little. Why should livestock roam when we can have well-equipped ranches with hospitals, markets, houses, schools, and facilities for processing meat, manure, and milk? Why transport livestock hundreds of kilometres only to lose value before sale? We should build modern abattoirs with machinery to process meat, bones, blood, marrow, skins, hoofs, and horns—then collect taxes from the ventures.

The North should also have boards or agencies to regulate and add value to farm produce, from seeds to processed goods. Why sell tomatoes, peppers, and onions raw instead of turning them into pastes and powders? Why sell raw beans or cereals rather than process them into flour and derivatives? Value addition multiplies profit—and tax revenue.

Furthermore, a leader cannot claim to be improving his nation’s economy while exporting billions abroad to prop up foreign businesses, to the detriment of hungry, jobless citizens. Why should the Nigerian state shun Nigerian-assembled vehicles while patronising European and Asian brands?

These measures would revitalise our economy and take countless youths off the streets, placing them beyond the reach of non-state actors. Resource-related clashes—already worsening due to population pressures—would diminish as more people become gainfully employed, have greater economic opportunities, engage in beneficial partnerships, and experience greater inclusion, thereby significantly enhancing security, especially in the kinetic sense.

We must remember that Nigeria needs to begin producing what it eats, wears, and drives. There is no better time to start than now. Those currently running the country have their work cut out for them.

COME TO THINK OF IT!

We are saddened by the death of Brigadier General Uba and every soldier killed by Boko Haram, IPOB, insurgents, bandits, and others. They gave their lifeblood defending this country. Most of our politicians do not seem to understand the gravity of this; otherwise, they would not be doing most of the things they are doing now.

And what is it about 50 legislators being trained to “negotiate” with America? God has already blessed us with Emeka Anyaoku, Bolaji Akinyemi, and other foreign experts who can handle America. Femi Fani-Kayode is doing more in defending Nigeria than all these fatuous money-wasting “programmes”. Wole Soyinka has also joined him, yet we are more concerned with a tea party!

What do we make of the indefinite closure of 47 Federal Government Colleges because of banditry? I hope we are not signalling to Boko (is) Haram that they are succeeding?

Concluded.

Hassan Gimba is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Neptune Prime.