I write in response to the above caption published as Editorial by Daily Trust, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.
What caught my attention is the unfortunate decision by the Edo State government, ordering all herdsmen operating in forests in the state to vacate there or face dire consequences.
The pertinent question is, does any state have the authority to issue such an order to a fellow Nigerian? His only crime is his ethnicity or religion. Certainly, not all headers are criminals.
How could a state government issue an order that contravenes Chapter 4 Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? The section states that: “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from the country or refuse entry thereby or exit therefrom.”
Everyone admits that security is a source of concern to Nigerians all over the country.
I have a firm belief that for us to get it right, everyone must be involved. it’s our country and all the communities it comprises, which are troubled by insecurity, are our own communities. We all know our priorities and the daunting challenges in the country.
We should work together for the peaceful coexistence of the nation. Indeed, peace is priceless. We either live with it or perish together, as a deserted nation.
Beyond any doubt, there are criminals in every region. We have to fight the outlawed collectively for us to make the country a better place for all citizens.
Indeed, we have a responsibility to secure our nation and give our citizens a sense of hope, trust and belonging that will be accepted by all and sundry. Certainly, there is a need to have an all-encompassing approach to dealing with the general insecurity in Nigeria.
All the three tiers of government should be assisted by citizens in providing necessary information in our domain about suspicious characters and their movements. We should not blame a certain entity on their tribe or religious beliefs. Fish out criminals whoever they are and make them face the music. The selective approach always escalates violence in the country.
If Nigerians are unjustly victimised are as a minority group in their state of residence the results will not augur well for the country. We need each other to progress as a nation.
I, therefore, make a humble appeal to the Edo State government to rescind its unconstitutional decision that threatens the country’s corperate coexistence.
Tijjani writes from Azare, Bauchi State.
