What is happening in the Nigerian nation as at now could be likened to a war. To many there is an undeclared war going on or how else could it be described when the body language of those in authorities lends support to some to wield arms doing their businesses, killing raping and destroying other people’s sources of livelihoods.
It is natural that when a stranger comes to your home to launch attacks taking off lives and indirectly seeking to dispossess you of your land you will naturally react to such provocative action if anything in self defence. Little wonder that the people in the South took appropriate steps to ward off the attacks from the Fulani herders who are ravaging everywhere.
It is stated that in war everything is fair. It is like in the game of football where it is acknowledged that you can play badly and win. What is of essence is in the victory. It is not surprising therefore those food growers in northern Nigeria have opted for a reprisal action against perceived actions they consider that amounts to loss of business following the defensive actions of the Southerners.
It is reported that for some days now there is scarcity of food because the Amalgamated Union of Food and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), food suppliers from the north deliberately caused a restriction of food supply to the South preferring to ship them to Cameroun and Niger Republic. This according to them is a protest action following the killing of their members and extortion by military men on the routes to the south.
Consequently, they have demanded a whopping sum of 425m naira in compensations for losses suffered.
The implications of this action are far reaching deepening significantly the gulf between the south and north. It sends a clear message and portends great danger for the survival of the country. There is no doubt that the drum beat of war and agitation for the separatist state being canvassed by the various ethnic groups would now attract a higher crescendo.
It would be pertinent to ask how the north would react if the south responds in like manner assuming the Niger Delta boys opt to interfere with the flow of oil and haulage of petroleum products to the north. What about the palm oil that moves from here to the north?
Their demands flies in the face of reality if it is weighed against the unquantifiable losses arising from the various rape incidents, killings of people, destroyed farm lands etc dating back to nearly a decade occurring here in the south.
News Echo regrets the dangerous level we have degenerated and blames the federal government who by its actions and inactions has created the monstrous situation we are grappling with now. Through some of its proposed program like RUGA, its failure to address the insecurity situation, crimes festered leading to the ugly state that generated the food blockade.
The reprisal action no doubt is self-hurting. It is an ill wind that spares not the originator. There are reports that the union members have suffered colossal loss as a result in redirecting their products to other areas that may not be in actual need of the items. It is obvious that they do not have the market that the South boasts of, little wonder a female supplier complained of rotten tomatoes and additional pains ferrying back the un-purchased items.
The lessons are quite obvious for the south especially the Igbo nation who should now focus on growing their own food than focusing on hotels, real estates, etc. We call on the federal government to take prompt measures to halt further drift. The government is entirely responsible for the unease in the country and should endeavor to clean up the mess.
