‘The menace of cattle herdsmen is a big problem that needs urgent attention’

Bishop Charles Ighele is a cleric with penchant for social justice and political activism. In this interview with ODITA SUNDAY, the General Superintendent of Holy Spirit Mission (aka Happy Family Chapel) spoke on the political situation in the country and other pertinent issues.

What is your view of Buhari’s administration’s war on corruption?
I must be candid as a man of a God, and I want other men of God to speak out, because God will be angry, if we keep quiet, when things are going wrong. I totally support President Buhari’s war on corruption, but it should be holistic about. He cannot use the weapon of selective justice to fight corruption and expect good results. No nation on earth will ever succeed in the war against corruption with selective justice. With what is on ground, however, it seems the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is only probing the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) campaign fund. Does that mean APC members are saints. I am advising that, if our president wants to earn our respect, he should be holistic. If he is probing campaign funds, let him probe every party.

Nigerians feel that his attitude towards rampaging cattle herdsmen is not good enough…

Our president should not keep quiet on the issue of the menace of cattle herdsmen. It is a very big problem. In the olden days, we lived harmoniously with Fulani herdsmen, but today, the centre can no longer hold; it is one killing to another. So, I think this may bring inter-tribal strife, if not well handled. I am supporting grazing reserve, where the cattle’s are kept in the north. The number of cattle in North America is even more than the number of human beings; yet, you don’t see cows moving on the streets. Cows should be kept in grazing reserve, which should be for the government. The Northern governments can make money from the reserve, as each cow will be taxed. The demand for cattle is much.

I am suggesting that there should be an entry point, where cattle are kept. People will go there and buy. There are countries, where they eat beef a lot, yet they don’t have cows. Other countries process the meat and sell to them. The beef can be processed in the north and sent to the west. It is dangerous to put cows on the streets, especially in the cities. They have to think ahead.

What is your take on militancy and Niger Delta Avengers?
The government should tread softly and carefully. The issue of Niger Delta Avengers is a worrisome one. They are blowing up oil pipelines and will soon cripple the economy. I don’t support blowing up the pipelines, but the government should dialogue with the group. I am from Niger Delta, and the suffering there is too much. Since 1960, they have been flaring gas in my town. I know what the Ijaw men have suffered. The Yar’Adua administration and that of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan understood the plight of the people by granting the militants amnesty. I don’t support a military clampdown. The war fronts are too many for the government. The problem of Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, the MASSOB and violent crimes are there for the government to tackle.

As an Army General, President Buhari should know that a general should not fight too many battles simultaneously. The government should not crush. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo tried it and it didn’t work. I am appealing to the president to forgive and forget whatever Tompolo has done and move forward. Let him let go of the matter. A president should have peace of mind to enable him restructure the economy, but with too many battles, he cannot have peace of mind.

The whole idea of Biafra is beyond the release of Nnamdi Kanu. The typical Igbo man feels that he is marginalised. He is feeling that he should not be playing second fiddle. He wants to have a sense of belonging, whereby he or she can become the president one day. This agitation will not die down. They are not poor people, as they are very industrious, hardworking and with a large population. People are saying they can’t trust an Igbo man and they keep hearing it. I suggest there should be rotational presidency, so that the Igbo man will become the president of Nigeria one day. Once you give them the assurance that one day an Igbo man will be president, they will give peace a chance.

You remember that after the June 12 crisis, when Abiola was denied his mandate, the Yorubas fought seriously and some Northern elders rose up and said, let’s give it to them and that was how Obasanjo got it. Obasanjo contested with Olu Falae, a fellow Yoruba. Now, let these Northern leaders, who said power should be given to the Yoruba, now rise up and give it to the Igbos also.

What is your counsel to President Buhari?
Nigeria is broke, so the government should stop wasting money on irrelevancies. I read in the papers that EFCC would be renovating its headquarters with billions of Naira. It is not necessary now. It should manage its office till the economy improves.

Secondly, before government comes up with any policy, it should consider whether such policy would favour the poorest and weakest man on the street. The government should diversify the source of revenue. It should not rely on oil, which price is falling daily. The government should harness the rich natural resources God has given to the country. The greatest one is in the area of agriculture. We have some other materials that could be processed for competitive international markets.

The government should have a listening ear and not see critics as enemies. It is dangerous not to talk. From the way Nigerians refused to react to the recent increase in fuel pump price, it could be seen that they are tired and downcast. Let government not think it has won the battle. It is more dangerous, as the increase affected every family.

Nigeria is becoming dangerous; there is pent up anger in the country. The country is filled with jobless youths who are wasting away. People are going into crime and the country has become a place, where criminals are celebrated. If the police arrest 100 criminals today, another 1000 will spring up tomorrow. I feel very sorry for my country. The government, as a matter of urgency, should find solution to youth unemployment.

The issue of epileptic power supply has been on the front burner. Government should declare a state of emergency in the sector and create enabling environment for investors.