Breaking News: It’s evil to criminalise Fulani herdsmen due to Buhari – Lauretta Onochie
Social Media Aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie has described as evil the act of criminalising a whole tribe or Fulani herdsmen based on mere dislike for the President saying it is completely wrong to generalize and tag the whole Fulani ethnic group as criminals.
Onochie said this on Monday on her tweeter handle. She advised those seeking a change of government to wait till 2023 as the ballot box is usually the best way to do so.
This reation, was a response to a statement issued by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) on the eviction order issued by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu to Fulani herdsmen in the state.
Onochie said, “If Emeka, Chijioke and Adanma commit crimes in any state, Emeka, Chijioke and Adanma alone are arrested and charged. Not Ndigbo.
“If Adeleke, Ayodele and Iyabo commit crimes in any state, Adeleke, Ayodele and Iyabo alone would usually be arrested and charged. Not the Yoruba nation. However, when the criminal is Musa, Aliyu or Ibrahim, the whole Fulani nation is guilty. Sometimes, Fulanis who have lived in the area for decades, are made to suffer the consequences of crimes committed by others. Why is this? They are Fulanis, President Buhari’s ethnic group.
“If there’s an ethnic or community clash where lives and properties are lost, we pick and choose which to attribute to community clash and which to lay on the doorsteps of the Fulanis, President Buhari’s ethnic group in order to satisfy the craving for more bitterness and hatred towards President Buhari.
“There’s no tribe that is free of bad eggs. But criminalising an ethnic group because you don’t like President Buhari’s face, is nothing short of evil and fishing for trouble.”
She said despite the attacks on President Buhari’s government, there are giant strides in development and that those who benefit from the chaos have not noticed the strides.
“After restructuring, they moved to Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram. Then an international “ombudsman” organisation, released statistics showing that in spite of security challenges, Nigeria is safer under this government than the previous.
“They then moved to the economy. Most of their criticisms were false. With the pandemic and a downturn in the world economy, the IMF announced that Nigeria had moved from the 46th to the 25th best economy, globally while still maintaining her 1st spot in Africa. This angered them.
“They didn’t give it a mention. It was not what they wanted for Nigeria and Nigerians. They wallowed in a mud of disappointment. They are now back to restructuring and Fulani herdsmen. They decided that the two topics wailed together, would make more impact.
“Although they have refused to take their liberty, local government councils, state houses of assembly and state judiciaries have been granted autonomy through executive orders signed by Mr. President. What more can he do! Drop? #BabaNoDeyDrop#CrimeHasNoTribe#StopTheHatred.
She however advised those seeking a change of government to wait till 2023: “Those threatening mayhem must calm down, take a deep breath and remember that this is the only nation we can truly call, “ours”. The ballot box is usually, the best way to change a government. That’s in 2023.″
