By Kulas Tersoo
Much politics have been played with the issue of the Fulani invasion and conquest war by the caliphate directed at the Benue valley and targeted specifically, the Tiv and Agatu in Benue.
Our leaders, perhaps, short-sighted, sheepishly or self-centred have done us more harm than good in selling out others for political power using the untoward development that has consumed over 5000 of our brothers from 2010 to date.
When the crises first started, it was obvious it is a coordinated attack as it was simultaneously directed at four Local Governments of Gwer-West, Makurdi and Guma all from Benue North-West where hundreds were massacred and unquantifiable properties destroyed.
Just like the current badmouthing of #MAFO by some political bugs, some insensitive and mischievous minds accused specifically, the Ihyarev people of eating the Fulani cows.
Much literature was written against this obvious vexatious, tenuous and vicious claim to bring to fore the truth that the Fulanis intention of attacking, killing and occupying the people’s land was far from the pretext of ‘cow rustling’, yet, our leaders showed no concerned apart from Emmanuel Jime and Christiana Alaaga who raised issues to this regard and a certain committee headed by Reps Osagie sent over for assessment of the damage. But it ended there.
The late Tor Tiv iv, Alfred Akawe Torkula and by extension, the then Governor, Gabriel Suswam were unjustifiably, terribly vilifed for been responsible for the carnage on our people.
The Moon people (entire council ward) of Kwande Local Government of Benue North-East were massacred, were next. They have been utterly sacked and their land taken over and occupied by the marauding herdsmen. The Issue of Ihyarev eating cows was no longer the in thing. Till date, the Moon people have no farmland to cultivate and are refugees in their own father’s land.
It was during the last Christmas celebration at Guma, precisely at Governor Ortom’s home that Sen. George Akume told the crowd that Suswam was responsible for their plight in the hands of the fulanis. But it is same Akume who could not visit same people during their plight though his constituents. Yet, as usual, he played on their gullibility.
Today, Torkula is no more. Suswam is no longer the Governor. Buruku is under constant attacks. Tarka is invaded and people, children, women maimed and sacked. Ihyarev people are neither in Buruku nor Tarka. So, what is actually the problem now? Who is the cause of our plight in the hands of the marauders today?
By the time we sit down and answer the above posers correctly, we will realised that our problem is not even the Fulanis but the unity that have, as a result fight for political power, eluded us. The Fulanis, having noticed how we are ready to sell each other to grab political office, have cashed in to achieve what they have been planning over the years.
We had a political amnesty here but what is the result? It has become clear today that the entire thing was done to please President Muhammadu Buhari, the grand patron of Miyatti Allah, an umbrella body sponsoring the carnage against us.
Today, when we want to address the issue, instead of attacking the people coming against us directly, our Governor go talking about ‘foreign Fulanis’. Who should identify foreign fulanis? Was it not same Fulanis that claimed responsibility on Agatu pogrom? Did they say they brought in foreigner to do it for them? But we do not want to offend the President while our people are slained every day.
A ground shaking peaceful protest by a sound and sensitive group like #MAFO was stopped in Makurdi simply because, the President, a full blooded Fulani man who have not hidden his disdain for a Tivman for daring his brothers and tribesmen may be offended. What a pity!!!! We are indeed damn!!!!
What is Senators Gemade and Akume saying at the senate? Yes, Orker Jev and others spoke very strong and sound. But was that collaborated and strongly backed up by our senators? Here too, someone is afraid of offending the Grand Patron of Miyatti Allah.
That is how our spirit is buried and the Tivman in all of us is dead.