Your Comment May Force Nigerians To Resort To Self-Help, FGGSC Warns Bala Mohammed

By Simeon OSAJIE

A civil society group known as Foundation for Good Governance and Social Change, (FGGSC) said the comments made by the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed may compel other Nigerians to resort to self-help by also bearing firearms to protect their valuables.

Briefing newsmen in Benin City, Edo State Capital. Comrade Austin Osakue said Bala statement was unfortunate considering the position he occupies as one of the governors in the federation.

"We wish to respond to the statement made by the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed to the effect that herdsmen have the right to own and move around with AK-47 rifles for protection of their cows.

"The is reckless, provocative, divisive and unbecoming of the status of a governor in a pluralistic society like Nigeria.

"The statement has the potential of exacerbating the ethnic and religious tension across Nigeria.

"The statement elevates the status of cows far and above that of Nigerians.

"The statement opens the floodgates of self-help for Nigerians of other ethnic divides and geographical zones to resort to self-help and arm themselves", he said.

Comrade Osakue also said it is also very unfortunate that ever since he encouraged the bearing of firearms by the herdsmen all in the name of protecting their cattle against rustlers, which they have allegedly used to kill innocent citizens in some parts of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to rebuke him over his comment.

"That the President Muhammadu Buhari's  federal government has not reprimanded the Bauchi's governor so far paints a scenario of the voice of Jacob but the hand of Esau", he said.

The Executive Director of the Group, while wondering on how a particular of group should hold the nation to ransom, called on President Buhari and those fanning the ember of crisis to learn from the nation's Civil War to avoid repetition.

"How can one ethnic group constitute so much threat to the rest of Nigeria? Who are their backers? Why have repeated calls for ranches fallen on deaf ears?

" We call on the Buhari's government to consult the history books. If it does, it will discover that the exact same events which led to the thirty-month Civil War between 1976 and 1970 are playing out now. Those who fail to learn from history  will be forced to repeat it", he said.