On President Buhari’s visit to Benue

The visit of President Buhari to Benue State is immaterial because that cannot end the killings in the state and as well bring the perpetrators to book. The president has for long ignored the people of the state and his comments regarding the satanic activities of the herdsmen in Benue State have been taken as an attestation of support by the people.

Note that previously, the President visited Nasarawa State and that very day of his visit, Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed many people in the state. He visited Taraba State and the same thing replicated there. Now that he visited Benue State, two policemen have been shot dead by the same Fulani herdsmen. Despite his visit and the ongoing Operation Cat Race in the state, herdsmen are still killing more. So, what is the need for his visit and the so called Operation Cat Race?

Before now, the president told Nigerians that he is not in the hurry to take decision concerning the killings of the innocent people in the state by his brothers Fulani herdsmen. According to him, he was studying the situation surrounding the activities of the herdsmen.

However, that unfortunate comment or speech by the President moved me and I asked: If the farmers from Benue State or any other state can take up their arms, go to Katsina State, the home of the president and begin to kill his people there because of the fact that Fulani herdsmen have destroyed their farms, can the President take his time to study the situation surrounding the activities of the farmers before taking a decision that can stop the killing? Can he allow the killing of his people to continue pending when he finishes his study on the situation surrounding the activities of the farmers in his state?

Nevertheless, the President also told the people of Benue State to accommodate their fellow countrymen. Does this mean the people of Benue State should accommodate the Fulani herdsmen before the killings can stop?

It is very unfortunate that the promise of turning Nigeria into paradise by Buhari during his campaign rallies has now turned to Benue State becoming a killing field and a grazing arena for the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle.

Notwithstanding, I must thank God that Buhari finally became the President of Nigeria and people can now see the kind of President they have. If not, Nigerians would have still been looking at him as the best and a messiah for this country. His failure at the same time has revealed his real identity.

Awunah Pius Terwase,

Mpape, Abuja.