We realized, rather belatedly that we ought to have been investing
in agriculture. We are now aiming at food security because of our large
population… Agriculture is providing jobs for millions of our citizens and we
are doing well towards the attainment of food security and jobs. President
Muhammadu Buhari in United States
That Nigeria is currently witnessing an ocean of gruesome killings
perpetrated by people still identified as “suspected Fulani herdsmen” with only
occasional islands of peace is no news. What is news is the implication of the
activities of this murderous group on food security which the government is not
mindful of, as it made steering the economy to the path of growth by investing
in agriculture in order to attain food security and reduce importation (see
Buhari’s 2018 budget speech). Again, the president reiterated this commitment
in a parley at Blair House, in Washington D.C., with some American Chief
Executive Officers in the agric. sector and their Nigerian counterparts as
indicated in the introductory note above. While making his speech at the White
House when he met President Trump, he repeated the same food security lines.
What should concern Nigerians is how possible is this given our present condition
of violent attacks on crops and farmers by the herdsmen.
Realizing the important need to redirect its focus to non-oil sector
– agriculture, which had long been abandoned as a result of wealth from
petrodollar is commendable; especially when the economic growth the country
recorded in the second quarter of 2017 which saw it exit recession is
attributed to agriculture. However, the food security currently promoted
appears to be the usual government verbiage we have heard before which lacks
action at the implementation level. If not, how can one reconcile implementing
the much talked about food security policy within a political society where
some elements main target – as they have exhibited – is to destroy crops in the
name of pasturing their cattle and brutally kill farmers whose role in
attaining food security is indispensable?
The foregoing aptly explain the present situation in Benue state, the
food basket of the nation, and other states in the north-central, north-east
and north-west. Sadly, state response from the federal government (FG) which
controls the coercive apparatus of the state is everything but effective and
assuring; at least from what we have seen so far. Therefore, it is safe to
conclude that the FG has remained passive in the face of what appears to be an
act of genocide on its citizens – majority of whom are farmers – it swore to
protect. If you are still wondering how this affect food security with respect
to Benue, and perhaps Nigeria as a whole, a careful examination of the state’s
economy will provide deeper insight even though this has been stated briefly
above.
Essentially, Benue’s economy is an agrarian one which houses a vast
majority of the state’s population. What this means is that any threat or
attack to the sector will definitely have serious ramifications on the life of
the people who depend on it for their livelihood, and by extension the nation
economy which relies on proceeds from this sector which Benue state plays a
prominent role as the food basket to boost its economic growth. While natural
disasters such as flood and drought can also affect such an economy, which is
perfectly understood because they are beyond human control; avoidable ones like
herdsmen onslaught on farmers’ lives and crops, and cattle destruction of crops
have badly affected the peasant economy in Benue.
Aside the burning of crops and brutal murdering of farmers by the
herdsmen, farmers who survived the senseless killings have been detained in
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps under horrific condition since they
fled their ancestral homes on account insecurity. They cannot return to take
advantage of the raining season for agricultural purposes which guarantees food
security. Coupled with non-payment of salary (this tends stimulate the peasant
economy) by the inept Ortom government which is unarguably the worst in the
state’s history, hunger and poverty have worn a human face in Benue state. Need
I state that this has eroded any effort – if at there was – at addressing goals
number one and two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
The president was right by saying “agriculture is providing jobs for
millions of our citizens….” In fact, our youths took seriously the idea of
returning to the farm when the nation’s economy was in recession. As a result,
Benue state witnessed bumper harvest last farming season more what it used to
be in spite of the floods which badly affected rice fields, fish ponds and
other crops; all of which were a consequence of corruption in the management of
ecological fund by the previous administrations, especially Suswam’s. However,
the onslaught of the herdsmen which has become an abhorrent norm in the life of
Benue farmers has taken away those jobs. This author is also affected. So, for
the president to say that “we are doing well towards the attainment of food
security and jobs” suggests that he is governing a sovereign territory from
Mars, which why he is not aware of the impact of the havoc the herdsmen have
wrecked on food security and human lives. After all, he is never aware of
anything.
No matter how objectionable President Buhari and unrepentant
Buharideens might find my line of argument, they cannot contend the fact that
this government’s cavalier attitude in handling the herdsmen terror on lives
and crops the way it should, negatively impacts its food security policy.
Therefore, the main concern now is not about pontificating the government’s
achievement in the agric. sector which has been reversed on account of its
failure to address violent attacks by the herdsmen on farmers and their crops,
or to promote food security policy. But to tackle herdsmen frequent attacks
which is the root cause of food insecurity (we are currently facing) by
deploying the necessary coercive power to the affected areas with a definite
mandate to fish out the perpetrators and their sponsors. Approving N10 billion
for the rehabilitation of communities affected by herdsmen brutal attacks in
Benue state cannot replace the precious lives that were lost, neither can it
solve the problem of frequent attacks. If anything, it is another bazar for
political entrepreneurs to enrich themselves as is always the case in our
political milieu.
Again, the N10 billion gesture to me is one that is targeted at
something more precious to the president than the welfare of the people (2019).
If not, why now, having failed to reach out to the people of Benue when the
attacks started in earnest in January this year?
On their part, the people of Benue have explored conventional
methods to get the government to come to their. Such methods include entreaties
and humble supplications, arguments, petitions, and remonstrations. They even
cried out to the central government to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of
the barbaric acts and their financiers in order to ensure that this carnage is
brought an end, and assure them of security as they go about their lawful trade
of farming. All of these fell on deaf ears. This explains why President Buhari
has become the bête noire of Benue people lately. While the people source of
livelihood – farming – has been attacked and their families brutally murdered,
the state under his leadership failed to act responsibly. To think that his
food security policy would succeed without confronting this problem is
delusional.
As the government continue to look at the pitiable and abominable
condition of the good people of Benue who are being brutally murdered almost
daily without effective response, I leave my brothers and sisters affected by
this carnage with an excerpt from Patrick Henry’s great speech before the
Virginia legislators in 1775, urging American colonies to revolt against
England.
Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which
the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in
the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are
invincible by any force which our enemy can stand against us. Besides, Sir, we
shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the
destinies of nations and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death!
Ihembe, Ayankaa Martin is a
political scientist with research interest In Political Development. He
can be reached via +2347036396194
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