The Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamali, has urged Nigerians to stop generalizing and blaming the entire Fulani ethnic group for acts of banditry, killings, and abductions. Bamali spoke on October 12 at a cultural event organised by the Fulani Development and Cultural Organisation (FUDECO)....For More READ THE FULL STORY▶▶
He said a Fulani man is expected to carry a stick and cutlass to fend for his livestock — and no more.
“Carrying an AK-47 is not part of the core values of a Fulani man. A Fulani man is expected to carry his stick and cutlass to cut grass for his animals, but definitely not an AK-47, nor to kill or maim people,” the Emir said.
Bamali also spoke proudly of the Fulani’s contributions to education, asserting that they are among the best educated in the country. “Fulanis are very enlightened people, very well educated. The best educated people in this country, I believe, are the Fulanis; I am not being biased,” he stated.
He encouraged the Fulani to continue upholding their cultural values and remain proud of their heritage. “I am very, very proud to be a Fulani man. All my ancestors, left and right, were Fulanis. So there is no way I will not be proud of my heritage, my culture, and everything Bamali said.
The Emir stressed that events like the FUDECO forum, which gathered participants from across Nigeria and neighboring countries, were vital in correcting misconceptions about the Fulani people and promoting their true identity. He expressed hope that these discussions would help put an end to the negative stereotypes surrounding the community.
Our prayer is that all the nonsense going on about banditry and other things would stop. The bad eggs we have in every tribe in this country need to stop that rascality,” Bamali added.
Ahmed Shehu, guest speaker and founding secretary of FUDECO, decried the “stereotyping” of Fulanis.
He said he has been in court with the federal government and 10 newspapers for two years over the stereotyping.
Shehu compared the treatment of Fulanis in Nigeria to the way Adolf Hitler treated Jews in Germany.
“They were dehumanised and treated as if they are not human beings,” he said.
“Years ago, over 800 Tutsis were killed in Rwanda. They were treated the way the Fulanis in Nigeria are being treated before they started killing them.”
He added that Fulanis abducting and killing people in bushes should be regarded as thieves and murderers.
“Anyone who is in the bush and causing destruction, is not one of us. The world should hear this. We distance ourselves from him,” he added.
“We have no business with them. They are thieves and we have nothing to do with thieves. They are criminals and should not be referred to as Fulanis because they are not working for the Fulani.”
Abubakar Naseh, FUDECO’s Kaduna coordinator, said the organisation was established after the killing of hundreds of Fulani pastoralists in 2016 and 2017 in Numan, Adamawa state, and in the Mambila Plateau of Taraba state. Naseh said FUDECO’s objectives include educating pastoralists on protecting their rights as equal citizens, and participating in decision-making to facilitate infrastructure like water, health, and veterinary services.…For More READ THE FULL STORY ▶▶
