By Emmanuel Gandu
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Excerpts
2. Introduction
3. The man – Muhammadu Buhari
4. Buhari’s Fulani ancestry and impact on Nigeria:
(a) Who are the Fulani
(b) Usman Danfodio
(c) Modus operandi of the Fulani
5.Buhari’s Fulani agenda implementation:
(a) Administration/governance
(b) Foreign relations
(c) Cattle policy
(d) Miyetti Allah
(e) Injustice
EXCERPTS
“Unfortunately, this inept, clueless, and dangerously nepotic Buhari succeeded in putting a knife on the things that held us together, pushed Nigeria to the brink, and we’ve fallen apart.”
“During his watch Nigeria became an imperilled, impoverished, debtor, and beggar nation that is now divided along several fault lines of tribe, religion, regional and other divisive negativity.”
“It’s appalling, despicable, and irresponsible for a government that came to power in May 2015 when the value of the Naira was 197.8763 to the $Dollar to now hand over in May 2023 at N755 to the $Dollar, N947 to the £Pound, and N810 to the €Euro.”
“For a Buhari as Head of State in 1985 to have (alleged) voted for Ide Oumorou, a Fulani from Niger Republic for the post of Secretary General of OAU and not for Peter Onu, an Igbo man from Nigeria smacks of his blatant penchant for affinity to his Fulani heritage as against his allegiance and loyalty to Nigeria.”
“By the time he is leaving at the end of his ignominious eight years presidency, Muhammadu Buhari will be likened to a guilty shameless lame dog searching for an escape route with its tail tucked in between its hind legs at the sight of on-lookers and passers-by.”
INTRODUCTION
The seemingly lack lustre eight years presidency of Nigeria by Muhammadu Buhari can best be described as a lost generation. This anomaly was characterised by human misery largely due to his stubborn and deliberate foisting of anti-people policies of vengeance and vendetta devoid of a workable economic roadmap. With all sense of objectivity, the performance of the Buhari government in terms of the economy, security, education, social welfare, political development, and investment is abysmal.
During these ignoble years, Nigeria was a rudderless ship manned by a clueless captain and crew that led to a shipwreck in the rocky, turbulent waters of economic mismanagement, corruption, insecurity, daunting foreign debts, nepotism, poverty, religious intolerance, the collapse of industrial and critical infrastructure, and the fall of a national currency at its lowest ebb ever.
It’s appalling, despicable, and irresponsible for a government that came to power in May 2015 when the value of the Naira was 197.8763 to the $Dollar to now handover in May 2023 at N755 to the $Dollar, N947 to the £Pound, and N810 to the €Euro.
Unfortunately for Nigeria, this inept, clueless, and dangerously nepotic Buhari succeeded in pushing the country to the brink. During his watch, Nigeria became an imperilled, impoverished, debtor and beggar nation that is now divided along several fault lines of tribe, religion, regional, and other divisive negativity. For a president Buhari with a few days to the eclipse of his eight years administration to seek approval for a loan of $800 million dollars from the World Bank smacks of corruption and indiscipline.
Regrettably, this Daura born retired military General, former GOC, former governor, former petroleum minister, former Head of State, former PTF chairman, and outgoing president of Nigeria, come 29th May, 2023 will bequeath to Nigerians a legacy that leaves much to be desired. Buhari has put a knife on the things that held us together and we’ve fallen apart.
At the end of his ignominious eight years presidency, Muhammadu Buhari will be likened to a guilty shameless lame dog searching for an escape route with its tail tucked in between its hind legs at the sight of on-lookers and passers-by.
The Man – Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was born on 11th December 1942, to a fulani family in Daura Katsina State. His father is Mallam Hardo Adamu Buhari from Dumurkul in Mai’Adua, and his mother is Zulaihat Buhari of Hausa and Kanuri ancestry. Buhari was the 23rd child of his father, who died when Buhari was four years old.
A distinguished and disciplined military officer, Muhammadu Buhari was:
• Fought as a senior military commander during the 30 months Biafra Nigeria Civil War of 1967 – 1970.
• Governor of Borno State from July 1975 – March 1976.
• Head of the Federal Commission for Petroleum and Natural Resources – March 1976.
• When the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was created in 1976, Buhari was appointed as its chairman, a position he held until 1978.
• GOC Jos during the Shehu Shagari presidency.
• Head of State through military coup. 31st December 1983 – 27th August, 1985 (removed in a military coup by Major General Ibrahim Babangida).
• Chairman Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) 1995 – 1998 (appointed by General Sani Abacha).
• Buhari tried the democratic presidency of Nigeria on three (3) consecutive unsuccessful attempts in 2003, 2007, and 2011.
• Democratic President of Nigeria 29th May 2015 – 29th May, 2019.
• Democratic President of Nigeria 29th May 2019 – 29th May, 2023.
During his 8 years presidency, Buhari’s health and ability to lead Nigeria was called to question after he repeatedly went abroad for medical attention. In 2017 alone, Buhari left Nigeria multiple times for treatment of an undisclosed ailment. That year (2017) he was absent for more than 5 months all together, leading to rumours that he had died and been replaced or cloned by a body double.
Muhammadu Buhari married Safinatu Yusuf in 1971 and they had four girls and a boy. They divorced in 1988.
He again married Aisha Halilu in 1989 and they have four girls and a boy.
Fulani Ancestry: Impact On Buhari’s Policies And Governance
✓ Who are the Fulani?
Fulani is an ethnic group spread across many countries, but predominantly in Central Africa, West Africa, and East Africa. Their population is of major significance in Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso.
The Fulani speak Fula or Fulbe language, and are traditionally a nomadic pastoralist herding cattle, sheep and goats across borders and into the hinterlands.
They keep seperate lives and lifestyles from the local indigenous farming / agricultural population.
The origin of the Fulani is traced to the Berber people of North Africa around the 8th – 11th century AD from where they migrated and spread across regions. They were the first group of people in West Africa to convert to Islam. Through Jihad (Holy War) they were able to take much of West Africa, especially the Hausa pagan territories and towns. Interestingly to them, and unfortunately for others, the Fulani have established themselves not only as a religious, tribal, but also as a political, economic, and a fighting force in defence of their cause. As a result, they have continued to forcefully conquer, and occupy much of West Africa including Nigerian territory.
✓ Usman Dan Fodio:
In 1804 Usman Dan Fodio, a fierce, studious, and Charismatic Muslim Fulani Scholar began preaching reformist ideology in the Hausa Kingdoms of West and Central Africa. His movement became a revolution, and seing himself as God’s instrument, he preached and launched Jihad against the Hausa Kings whom he felt were not following the teachings of the Prophet. A great upheaval ensued during which the Fulani took control of most of the Hausa States in Northern Nigeria and elsewhere.
A new kingdom based on the city of Sokoto known as ‘Sokoto Caliphate’ emerged as the headquarters of the Fulani empire in Nigeria. The Sokoto caliphate’s hegemony was established over Northern Nigeria (excluding the Borno Empire and most parts of the Middle Belt) especially in Emirates like Kano, Zaria, Katsina, Daura, Dutse, and Ilorin who’s rulers became Fulani Emirs under the provinces within the Sokoto caliphate.
✓ Modus operandi of the Fulani:
As part of their expansionist strategies, the Fulani first move into an area and tended to be peaceful. The local indigenous people gives them land on lease or as grants where the cattle droppings as manure serves as batter. With the passage of time, the number of new Fulani arrivals increase by multiple. This influx is fuelled by larger migration aggravated by the practice of seasonal movement and transhumance across several countries in search of pasture and water for their cattle.
Consequently, Fulani resentment at being ruled and dictated to by ‘pagans’ soon become issue of disagreement with the indigenous landowners. Besides, grazing land for their cattle progressively become issues of violent conflict with the host community.
These are the basic principles and pattern of fulani ethnic violence, domination, occupation, and forceful land grabbing employed by the fulanis over the ages.
Buhari’s Fulani Agenda Implementation
• Administration, governance, and public service:
As a typical Fulani, Muhammadu Buhari came to serve the interest of the Fulani no matter their country of origin. This he had demonstrated in words and deeds, in policy implementation and governance, in private and public, within and outside Nigeria.
Buhari divided public opinion among Nigerians by his skewed policies, governance, and his tacit support in favour of the Fulani tribe and the Hausa North. This is glaringly evidenced in the lopsided appointment and promotion to the armed forces and the police, the MDA’s, federal and state educational system, civil service, siting of projects and critical infrastructure.
Buhari’s refusal to ensure arrest, prosecution, and justice to the endless wanton destruction of life and property perpetrated by his Fulani herdsmen militia terrorists across the country is a crime that may be left for God’s justice.
• Foreign Relations:
For a Buhari as Head of State in 1985 to have (alleged) voted for Ide Oumorou, a Fulani from Niger Republic as Secretary General of OAU and not for Peter Onu, an Igbo man from Nigeria smacks of his blatant penchant for affinity to his Fulani heritage as against paying allegiance and loyalty to Nigeria. Buhari is not done yet with his allegiance to his Fulani heritage. On Tuesday 23rd May 2023, the out going president warned his enemies in Nigeria that Niger Republic will defend him in the event of any attack when he leaves office.
• Cattle Policy:
In an attempt to accommodate the Fulani tribe from all over Africa into Nigeria, the Buhari led administration slammed the country with different cattle policies. These include Catle Colonies, Cattle Routes, RUGA Settlements, Grazing Reserves, Open Grazing, Grazing Routes, and such others that opened up Nigeria as a gateway for every fulani to the country’s land and territory. Regrettably, the influx of these fulani tribe came with devastating consequences including herdsmen/farmer clashes, hunger, high cost of food, diseases, killing, destruction, occupation and sacking of entire villages/communities from their ancestral land.
The invading rampaging gun carrying foreign fulani have continued to decimate Nigerian communities through supervised genocidal attacks, banditry, rape and kidnapping for ransom, and all kinds of criminality. Lamentably, these Muhammadu Buhari’s Fulani have viscously plundered, deliberately and mercilessly humbled the “Giant of Africa” to her buckled knees.
• Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN)
Muhammadu Buhari is widely accused of harbouring the terrorist activities of the fulani herdsmen especially their umbrella body, the Miyetti Allah. This group was viewed by most Nigerians as another parastatal of government during the Buhari regime because they carried out their activities without restraint from government. An advocacy group centred on promoting the welfare of Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria, MACBEN was founded in the 1970’s with headquarters in Kaduna. When MACBAN was founded, it received support from the founding Board of Trustees made up of Sultan Abubakar III, Emir of Zazzau Aminu, Emir of Katsina Usman Nagogo, and Emir of Kano Ado Bayero.
• Injustice:
While regions like Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna and the entire Middle Belt; South East; South South; and South West feel abandoned by the absence of equity, justice, and fair play by Buhari’s 8 year presidency on the one hand, the Fulani and the Hausa North on the other hand see Buhari as their God sent messiah, or better put, as heir apparent to Usman Danfodio – a heir apparent that has superintended and allowed the Fulani turn Nigeria into a Killing field that flows with tears and blood.
