Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was president from 1999 -2007. During this period, Jos saw hell a number of times. While killings of innocent people and destruction of properties were on, never did anyone accuse President Obasanjo of being the master mind of the massacre. In 2001 alone, the crises that started on the 7th September lasted for about 2 weeks and left about 1,000 people killed, houses burnt and other properties worth millions lost. In 2004 another violence that also claimed about 1,000 lives led President Olusegun Obasanjo to impose a state of emergency in Plateau state, describing the mayhem as nothing short of “mutual genocide.” There are other pockets of crises, but lets go to the administration after that.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua took office in late June 2007 and by November 2008,a two days conflict left hundreds injured putting the figure of those killed at 761 with many hundreds either missing or unaccounted for. During these crises no one mentioned President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua a Fulani man as responsible for the planning and execution of the killings. To some extent, Nigerians did not play politics with it rather issues were critically looked into so as to find a lasting solution. CAN then was existing fully but was not a major voice.
President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan took over from President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2010 and was president till 2015. By January 2010 (President Goodluck was then acting president),Jos exploded and spread to surrounding communities. Houses, churches, mosques and vehicles were set ablaze, during at least four days of fighting. Berom Christians invaded a Fulani settlement (Muslim herdsman allied with the Hausa) in nearby Kuru-Jenta, in which Berom gunmen murdered and threw Fulani corpses into wells. Fulani bands staged reprisal attacks on March 7 and 17, despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the targeted Berom villages of Dogo Nahawa, Rasat, Zot and Ramsat located in the Jos South and Barkin Ladi local government areas, and despite the presence of Joint Task Force military peacekeeping units. Berom leaders consequently accused Muslim officers of taking sides and allowing the Fulani attackers free reign.
Some of the Hausa-Fulani women were raped and taken as slaves. Remember, President Jonathan was in power. In all, more than 1,000 lives were lost. There were other killings in 2012 and small skirmishes in 2013. In all these crises no one ever suggested or mentioned President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan as the brain behind the killings. No secret agenda or conspiracy theories were postulated and again elders also critically looked at the matter to find a head way to prevent future occurrence.
President Muhammadu Buhari became preseident in 2015 and still president till date. Jos again erupted. June 2018, 120 people killed (Fulani casualties not included), houses burnt in fresh Plateau bloodbath. Vanguard reports that 86 bodies were seen, 50 houses burnt as Plateau state government slams dusk-to-dawn curfew on 3 affected LGAs. For the first time, Northern CAN seeks arrest and prosecution of perpetrators.
This is the issue:
While Jos is boiling, we are all engaging in frivolities orchestrated by the same irresponsible politicians that have kept us where we are today. The same people that have divided us along tribal and religious lines. Our greatest problem is thinking that these politicians are speaking the truth against the complacency of the government because of how they love and care for our future. They are for what they can get out of it for their personal and selfish gains. But my emphases is on the current situation. I made references of previous administrations not to compare casualties (one death is enough) but to remind us that we have gone through what we are experiencing today and even worst. We are a people that forgets so easily and most especially the social media kids of today may not be aware of this past events. You must know where you are coming from even the Jos crises predates 1999. It is unfortunate that no administration including the present one has been able to find a solution to put a permanent end to this killings. I heard an analyst on radio saying that no one can solve the problem and I totally disagree with him. God has put us here to solve the problem if we forget politics and become serious for once. It is highly disturbing that the theory of an expansionist agenda of the Fulani has taken the front burner and as usual, many swallow it hook line and sinker. Even PDP that was in power from 1999 to 2015 declared 3 days of mourning as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) engaged in a massive protest. It is absolutely evil for any political party be it APC, PDP, or APGA to take advantage of the painful death of innocent people to campaign for votes. You can't score any political point with the blood of the innocent. It is an unforgivable sin. Pastors and Bishops are busy calling for Christians to take up arms while others are calling for self defense reminding us that it's enshrined in our constitution. Little by little and without knowing the consequences, they are calling for war that will consume everybody. Across the South, the body language of the president is discussed as the reason for the killings as many accused him of masterminding the ugly and wicked acts. I agree 100% that the president and commander in chief should take full responsibility and take very decisive actions but accusing him of strategically planning and execution of this mayhem is not being fair to the old man. If we continue this way, the next president will still have Jos to contend with and the circle of killings continues. God is looking for a man who will stand for us to exterminate this constant orgy of violence. Can we forget and put aside politics and religion? It's only when we do so that a solution will come.
While Jos is boiling, we are all engaging in frivolities orchestrated by the same irresponsible politicians that have kept us where we are today. The same people that have divided us along tribal and religious lines. Our greatest problem is thinking that these politicians are speaking the truth against the complacency of the government because of how they love and care for our future. They are for what they can get out of it for their personal and selfish gains. But my emphases is on the current situation. I made references of previous administrations not to compare casualties (one death is enough) but to remind us that we have gone through what we are experiencing today and even worst. We are a people that forgets so easily and most especially the social media kids of today may not be aware of this past events. You must know where you are coming from even the Jos crises predates 1999. It is unfortunate that no administration including the present one has been able to find a solution to put a permanent end to this killings. I heard an analyst on radio saying that no one can solve the problem and I totally disagree with him. God has put us here to solve the problem if we forget politics and become serious for once. It is highly disturbing that the theory of an expansionist agenda of the Fulani has taken the front burner and as usual, many swallow it hook line and sinker. Even PDP that was in power from 1999 to 2015 declared 3 days of mourning as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) engaged in a massive protest. It is absolutely evil for any political party be it APC, PDP, or APGA to take advantage of the painful death of innocent people to campaign for votes. You can't score any political point with the blood of the innocent. It is an unforgivable sin. Pastors and Bishops are busy calling for Christians to take up arms while others are calling for self defense reminding us that it's enshrined in our constitution. Little by little and without knowing the consequences, they are calling for war that will consume everybody. Across the South, the body language of the president is discussed as the reason for the killings as many accused him of masterminding the ugly and wicked acts. I agree 100% that the president and commander in chief should take full responsibility and take very decisive actions but accusing him of strategically planning and execution of this mayhem is not being fair to the old man. If we continue this way, the next president will still have Jos to contend with and the circle of killings continues. God is looking for a man who will stand for us to exterminate this constant orgy of violence. Can we forget and put aside politics and religion? It's only when we do so that a solution will come.
Nnaemeka Ikerionwu
Email: meganaija12@gmail.com
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