It is an irony that the most powerful monarch today in Northern Nigeria and the most powerful man in Nigeria are both “highly” trained security personnel, yet insecurity is ravaging the length and breadth of the nation. It is not also a coincidence that Buhari and the Sultan are grand patrons of Miyetti Allah (Fulani herdsmen). Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, Bandits, and Unknown gunmen are now better motivated and equipped than the formerly respected Nigerian Army that has won many accolades in peacekeeping missions across the world. The billions that have been spent on the Nigerian Army are enough to fund the full budget of some nations in Africa. But Boko Haram still upend the Nigerian Army. The revelations that retired and serving Army officers have personally enriched themselves from budgetary allocations have received a deaf response from the Presidency. If you add this and other information about the insurgency in Nigeria, it is easy to conclude that these killings and destruction of lives and properties were premeditated long before they started.

When Al Qaeda was gaining ground and bombing locations across the United States and Europe, many Muslims secretly and openly rejoiced that the western world is getting what they deserved. Little did they know that whoever creates a monster will eventually lose control of the monster. Today, AL Qaeda and its splinter groups are a plague to the Arab and Islamic world more than any other region of the world. When Boko Haram started its onslaught, its major targets were Christians and Christian communities. Today, mosques and Muslim communities are suffering as much as Christian communities in Northern Nigeria. But the tide is gradually turning. Sokoto, the seat of the caliphate has largely been immune from widespread and consistent attacks from Boko Haram or bandits until lately. The Northeast which has kingdoms that resisted the caliphate has and continues to bear the brunt of attacks because like the Hausa Kingdoms that were conquered, they succumbed to the unite and rule strategy enforced by Fulanis.

The Unite and Rule strategy united the Northern Kingdoms with religion but maintained rulership via the emirate council. They speak Hausa as a lingua but use Fulfulde when important decisions are taken. The blatant disregard for other ethnic nationalities when key positions are vacant has also illuminated this strategy. Nonetheless, the monsters created to infiltrate and subjugate the South completely like how Hausas have been successfully subjugated are hungry for more blood and money. The monster is not satisfied with kidnapping and ransoms midwifed by Sheikh Gumi and others at highways and schools kidnapping. They have started moving in on the emirs and will soon get to the Sultan. The insecurity has already gotten to Aso Rock. The first lady’s relocation to Dubai was informed by the unsafe atmosphere in the inner chambers of the Presidency. If Buhari is not removed democratically in 2021, the Sultan of Sokoto will relocate to Saudi Arabia because his kingdom would have fallen into the hands of the monster he helped to create never to rise again. This is because the traditional rulership structure in Northern Nigeria would have been reinstated to pre-Usman dan Fodio days completely.

Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com