National President of Association of Christian Theologians, Prof. Olakunle Macaulay, has explained why it has been impossible for the Buhari administration to tackle headlong, the festering crisis of herdsmen attacks across the country.
According to him, the Buhari administration has been unable to address the problem because “prominent people in his government, as well as many senators, are cattle traders or cattle businessmen, who recruited Fulani herdsmen to rear their cattle around the country.”
Macaulay, an octogenarian and nephew to the late nationalist, Herbert Macaulay, gave the revelation in Lagos on Sunday, while reacting to the latest Fulani herdsmen attack on Chief Olu Falae’s farm in Akure, Ondo State, and the attacks on female teachers in Ewekoro, Ogun State.
Macaulay said, “We all wonder why this government has taken undue interest in cattle rearing but the truth is that, many people in government and some senators are cattle businessmen, which is not a crime really; but using their trade to kill and destroy the property of people across the country is unacceptable.
“What happened to Chief Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and how they attacked two female teachers in Ewekoro, Ogun State, recently, are clear indications that these Fulani herdsmen are taking over the whole country, and we all know the implication.
“Soon, they may invade Lagos and any part of the South-West and it is disturbing that the government has not taken any decisive action to halt the trend.”
Besides, the octogenarian faulted the composition of a Federal Government panel raised to probe the mass slaughter in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states by the herdsmen.
He said the panel had failed before take-off because it was only composed of government officials alone.
The panel, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has nine state governors as its members.
Macaulay said, “It is clear that the panel is not going to achieve anything, given its objective. It was raised to investigate the inability of government to contain the activities of herdsmen who have posed serious threat to the security and well-being of Nigerians and Nigeria as a country.
“Now, the same government that cannot stop the senseless killings by the Fulani herdsmen is being asked to probe why it cannot stop them.
“When you want to set up a panel like that, it should comprise the people affected. Core Nigerians should be involved. Which means the religious leaders should be involved, community leaders, the business people, the common people, even the market women, all should be involved. This affects lives.
“To me, I think that composition is completely wrong. You see, we are talking about the inefficiency of the Federal Government and now you are adding governors. So who is actually challenged, and who is defending? How can they sit down and talk to us about their problems and their solutions. Even to an ordinary man with common sense, it is not right,” he flayed.
