Nigeria: Unlawful Act

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Unlawful Act

12 May 2009

editorial

Abuja — A week ago, the Plateau State government embarked on massive deportation of Fulani nomads from the Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area of the state.

The exact figure of nomads so forcefully deported is not yet clear but the number is substantial. On the orders of the Plateau State government they were taken to Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa States. When the news first broke, the Plateau State government first denied the story, then recanted and explained this unconstitutional action away by saying that the affected nomads were "illegal settlers with no minimum requirements" to stay within its territory. Reports had said that the government used military tanks and federal agencies such as the State Security Services (SSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for the exercise. The army stridently denied its involvement saying its troops stationed in Plateau State are meant to help keep the peace. Nothing has been heard from the other security agencies allegedly involved in this act.

This action by the Plateau State government is in total disregard of the provisions of the Nigerian constitution which guarrantees for every citizen free movement, free association and right to pursue happiness in any part of the country. It is therefore unlawful and unconstitutional and must not be allowed to stand. The reasons given for the act was that the nomads' continued stay at the precincts of Wase local government could precipitate conflict with the local residents and thereby disturb the peace. This is tendentious and untenable. True, there have been incidents of sporadic conflicts between cattle rearing nomads and farmers over cattle destroying food and other valuable crops. But this is not limited to Plateau State; it is a nationwide phenomenon for which there is an established body charged with amicably settling such disputes. In any case, the nomads being transient sojourners are not in Wase to put down roots rather they go where there is foliage for their cattle. Given time they would have moved on. It is the duty of the Plateau state government to ensure that while the nomads are around peace reigns; therefore sending the nomads away because of the likelihood of conflict amounts to abandoning its responsibility.

The Plateau State government officials should familiarise themselves with Sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution and be informed that its action flies in the face of the provisions. Several policies have been put in place to break down the barriers of ethnicity and chauvinism in order to forge unity amongst our diverse people. Deporting people adjudged by the Plateau State as not belonging is like turning back the hand of the clock. It is an affront on the dictum of "unity in diversity". Nigerians are intermingled in all spheres of human endeavour. Have those running affairs in Plateau State considered a situation where other states drive away indigenes of Plateau State in reciprocation and the damage that would be done to national cohesion? This is why we are disturbed by the silence of the federal government which is still playing the ostrich as if nothing has happened. It is disturbing that Nigerian troops, sworn to defend the integrity and cohesion of the country would be used in the illegal deportation of Nigerians. The circumstances surrounding this whole affair should be investigated and appropriate measures be taken against those found to have shirked their responsibility.

Meanwhile, Fulani cultural organisations like Miyetti Allah should protect their members by taking up the case in court to get the ignoble act quashed. Nothing should be done or seen to be done that would make Nigerians feel like settlers in any part of the country as that would amount to taking away what the constitution expressly gave to them.