ENDING THESE NEEDLESS ATTACKS IN OMALA WITH HIGH CULTURAL DIPLOMATIC MISSION AND LEGAL OPTIONS
By ONOJA J. OKPANACHI
Sad moment for the loss of lives in Omala and even more painful that the circumstances leading to this heavy lost is an attack on innocent, unarmed and unprepared persons.
There’s no better time than now to join forces with those who have been working to bring an end to this ugly situation in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State which have been claiming lives for years now. Time to sit on the same table, look ourselves in the face and tell only the truth irrespective of whose interest is affected.
The Omala situation is gradually getting out of hand largely because many who are supposed to stand up and lead haven’t – so many things are being normalized in the area today for the interest of peace but the peace seems to be running afar the more the people try to give way for it to reign.
One of such unusual normalizations with grave consequences in the future is the revenue issue in Bagana Market where we (The ARISE IGALA Team) were reliably informed that the Fulanis are in charge of the ticketing/revenue collections as it stands now – it may sound strange and unbelievable but you can go ahead to confirm this development – it’s that bad already. Again, for the interest of peace, some portions of the area have been left for the Fulani Herdsmen to settle but still, the attacks won’t end which indicates some fundamentals must be missing. The mission may be larger than what it seems. And, if this silence continues, the future may not have good story to tell about us who lived today.
As it stands today, this situation has gone beyond physical protection of the area, counter-attack or any form of offensive moves – even though these options seem to be inevitable because of the current realities, the option of high cultural diplomacy and legal optiions must be adopted as soon as possible so to clearly define boundaries and avoid repeats of this inhuman acts. I am of this opinion because anything outside this may not guarantee the people’s permanent safety as the attacks are taking place on our own land – the Fulanis in questions, who can actually trace the exact states they are from in Nigeria? So, you can’t even take the battle to them. Therefore, cultural diplomatic mission using the traditional rulers first may go a long way.
This is time for reality, time for practical solutions. At this point, the Ata Igala and the Sultan of Sokoto need to meet. These two great royal fathers can step in to put a final stop to this needless war and inhuman killings in our land. The perpetrators of these unacceptable ugly acts are not spirits but humans, they are under (cultural) authorities hence the call for the two royal fathers to meet first and then initiate the process that can put a final stop to this.
At this point, no need to hide from the truth. All aspects of the causes of these attacks (recent and remote) must be addressed from economic, political, cultural to religious matters. Going the way of this high cultural diplomatic mission is not a sign of weakness but courage and willingness to find lasting solutions to prevent a reoccurrence in the future. Hoping this works out well, it may become a model in resolving issues of this similar nature.
I call on all stakeholders; the Igala Area Traditional Council, The Sokoto Caliphate, Federal Government of Nigeria, Both Kogi and Sokoto State Governments and key/relevant organizations of Igala and Fulani extractions to take this path to bring permanent peace in the area.
Beyond this article, I (with my team) shall be taking practical steps to reach out to the Igala Area Traditional Council, the Sokoto Caliphate, Governments of Kogi and Sokoto States and the relevant agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria to encourage this cultural diplomatic mission as a critical option to resolving whatever the differences may be.
On this note, I and my team wish to condole with the good people of Kogi East and particularly those families who have lost their loved ones and properties.
Greater days ahead.
