On the General T.Y Danjuma’s statement

An elder statesman is a respected leader, often one who no longer has an active job, who is thought of as capable of giving good advice to the society. More so, an elder statesman is an eminent senior member of a group or organization. He is in the true sense of the word a peacemaker […]

An elder statesman is a respected leader, often one who no longer has an active job, who is thought of as capable of giving good advice to the society. More so, an elder statesman is an eminent senior member of a group or organization. He is in the true sense of the word a peacemaker and moderator.

 If truth be told, the country is facing serious internal security crisis and all hands must be on deck towards finding a solution. This is not the time to incite the public. 

In my view, the statement of General T. Y Danjuma (rtd) at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Taraba State University, Wukari, asking citizens to defend themselves against attackers was unbecoming of an elder statesman.

 If elders do not calm frayed nerves who will? If elders resort to incitements, what will the youth do? It is a known fact that General Danjuma has unfettered access to the powers that be. Why then would he choose to air his views on a matter that is so sensitive in that manner?  Rather than apportion blame, we should seek solutions. 

We must agree that there is nothing religious about killing innocent people. We must accept the fact that both farmers and herders are victims of this barbaric act of killing and we must understand that violence does not do anybody any good. We should get to the root cause of the conflict, if we must nip it in the bud.

Nurudeen Dauda wrote from Kaduna and can be reachedat:[email protected]