Matters Arising

Matters Arising.
by Kunle Ojeleye

(1)
I have argued here that using climate change to justify the destructive and violent tendencies of the Fulani herdsmen does not cut it with me.
When I took my position, some thought it was out of ignorance. What they did not know is that I’ve been studying climate change and natural resource conflicts before Buhari ever knew he would become President.
My position remains:
“If I have grass and you really desire it, why can’t we trade?
Keep your cattle with you.
I sell you the grass to feed your cows, you sell me meat to eat?”
Won’t we be killing two birds with one stone? Solve herder-farmer conflicts whilst deepening internal trade at the same time?

(2)
It was also here that I fiercely criticised the rail link being built by President Buhari to Niger Republic.
Apart from questioning the logic behind borrowing money to fund such a project that I did not see of any short or medium term value to Nigeria, my geopolitical and strategic analysis cap told me there was more to a project that is seen as being more of importance, than the overdue re-construction of Lagos-Badagry-Seme road or the construction of a rail link from Lagos to Seme or the total linking of all major Nigerian cities by rail to ensure goods/products especially perishable items from the hinterland, can quickly and efficiently be transferred to their markets.
I remember that my brother Carlo Gambino brought his insight to bear on my concerns. As usual many government ass-lickers that have since gone quiet on this wall told us we should shut up.
Now that they are diverting foodstuffs to Niger Republic and Cameroon, you may begin to see a pattern in how strategic, those you think are unintelligent, have been in using Nigeria’s money to prepare themselves for a future they see is inevitable.

(3)
Ko baje fun cow meat from the North.
If you are finding it difficult to wean yourself from cow meat, I have a brother on this wall.
He has been operating a ranch in Osun State for many years and has various kind of meats including cows and grasscutters to sell in quantity.
If my brother can do it, not destroying other people’s labour and sweat to breed and raise cattle for sale, maybe some folks will now understand why I will never support RUGA – forceful acquisition of someone’s rightful land for the commercial venture of another.

(4)
We have so much uncultivated arable and fertile land in the southwest.
We can become a food basket in the West African region if our governors are smart enough to turn our unemployed and unengaged youths into an engine house of modern agricultural practices.
The youths get rich, the needy gets fed, the government makes money from taxation to drive other social-infrastructural projects, and everyone involved is happy.

(5)
Above all, this is a refrain many don’t want to hear, but it is apt at this point.
Yoruba Ronu.
Lugard forcefully married a wealthy and suitable bride to an unworthy groom in 1914.
This is 2021. An abusive groom in any relationship will find himself in a divorce process. Per chance, he wants to remain in that relationship, the bride holds the ace. Relationship remaining is dependent on her consent and on her unequivocal terms that may not be violated.

Let all our southwest leaders – political, religious and traditional – stop calling the cow ‘my brother’ because of their personal selfish interests.
Yoruba Ronu.